Cuckfield Museum on history of war memorial centenary

100 years ago on January 23 1921, the memorial to the 81 Cuckfield men who died in the First World War was unveiled before a huge gathering during an outdoor service in Holy Trinity churchyard.
Cuckfield War Memorial SUS-210128-164016001Cuckfield War Memorial SUS-210128-164016001
Cuckfield War Memorial SUS-210128-164016001

Almost every family had been affected in some way by the events of the war but The Mid Sussex Times of January 27 recorded that ‘the task of unveiling the striking monument – a cross of sacrifice – was fittingly entrusted to Mrs Stevens and Mrs Fisher’.

Both were mothers who had lost a son.

Mrs Stevens’ son, Eric, was a solicitor who enlisted as a stretcher bearer – his letters home were published after his death in 1916 and may be seen in Cuckfield Museum.

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Mrs Fisher was the wife of the former Vicar of Cuckfield, Canon Fisher, and their son Wilfred was just 19 years old when he was killed in 1917.

Great thought had been taken as to the type of memorial with public meetings at the Queens Hall.

In the end an outdoor monument was chosen and the position to the south of the church and looking towards the Downs was felt to be the most fitting site for peace and contemplation.

It must be remembered that families had nowhere to grieve, their dead in most cases were buried in foreign fields.

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The memorial was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, RA but the inscription of the names was entrusted to the Cuckfield stonemason,

Frederick Hounsell and the cost of the whole was met by public subscription.

The memorial has become a well known and loved feature of our churchyard as people have gathered every year since 1921 to honour the dead of two world wars.

The parish council is in the process of completing a programme of cleaning and restoration.

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Our photograph shows the memorial soon after its unveiling: the ground has not yet been levelled. 

That was done during the Spring by Leonard Rhodes who found a silver penny while he was working.

Thought to have been from the reign of Henry III (1216-72), it could have been dropped at the time the south side of the church was being built. To find out more about the museum, visit cuckfieldmuseum.org

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