St. John the Evangelist Church, War Memorial - Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. - Non-Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

This War Memorial is Grade II listed for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a memorial in the form of a Calvary with accompanying statuary that is well crafted and has artistic qualities.

It is a First World War memorial that was erected c1920. A further inscription was added after the Second World War in memory of the eight who died in that conflict.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is situated in a prominent location, close to the liturgical west end of the church. It is in the form of a wooden Calvary with a stone figure of Christ. To either side are the carved figures of the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist and at the foot of the cross is a kneeling figure, probably Mary Magdalene.

Two reconstituted stone blocks carry dedicatory plaques.

The left-hand plaque is inscribed:
'PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE
GREAT WAR 1914-1918
THOMAS FINN JOHN McKEOWN
JOHN MORAN JOHN PRYOR
HENRY SHAW DOMINIC SWEENEY
JOHN WILKINSON '
(It also includes one of the Fallen from the Second World War underneath the names mentioned above).
JAMES PRYOR - 1954

The plaque on the second block carries the inscription:
'1939-45
JOANNES RAFFERTY.
RICHARDUS HENNESSEY.
PETRUS KEVIN GARVEY.
FRANCISCUS CAREY.
JOANNES CHRISTOPHORUS GARVEY.
JOANNES HIGGINS.
THOMAS MURPHY.
PIE JESU DOMINE DONA EIS REQUIEM.'

Source: (visit link)

Source: (visit link)

Interestingly, the men’s first names— a number of whose surnames suggest Irish heritage, are recorded in their Latin form on the World War 2 plaque, which was not the case for their Great War predecessors. Source page 19 at the following link: (visit link)

'Delight as war memorial secures Grade II listed status' a report in the Sentinel Newspaper: (visit link)

Type of Memorial: Multi-War Memorial Wars mentioned (Multi-war only): World War 1 World War 2 In Honor Of: PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 Marker Text: See long description. Who Put it Here?: Church Authorities Description of Memorial: This war memorial is located in the churchyard at the front entrance of St. John the Evangelist Church. Date of dedication: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visited Logs must contain, at least, a picture of the monument and your GPSr. Preferably YOU at the monument with your GPSr, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
It is suggested you please include something about your visit here, as well.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   01/06/2019 dtrebilc visited it