Long Crendon Village War Memorial

 

The Long Crendon Village War Memorial stands in a raised garden to the east of the junction of Chearsley Road and Bicester Road. The garden is fronted by a low retaining wall. Access is gained by way of three steps in the centre of the wall, leading up to a paved area bordered on three sides by a similar low stone wall and there are a further three steps in the rear wall

Approximately 3m tall, the granite stone monument at the centre of the paved area comprises an obelisk, square on plan. The obelisk rises from the pediment of a square plinth. The plinth stands on a three-stepped base. The principal dedication on the front (west) face of the plinth reads “IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE GREAT WAR. THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE”.

Long Crendon War Memorial was unveiled on 19 November 1920 by Colonel F T Higgins Bernard, of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and dedicated the same day by The Reverend Elwell. The memorial commemorates 52 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, further names were added to commemorate those eight who died in that conflict.

The War Memorial (8040 & 115279) is listed as Grade II because of historic interest, as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the twentieth century. From an architectural interest it is a simple yet elegant Classical obelisk.

Under the dedication on the front (west) face of the plinth are recorder the deaths in 1914 (3 NAMES) and 1915 (9 NAMES). The remaining names from the First World War, grouped by year, are recorded on the other sides of the plinth. Inscriptions for the Second World War are recorded on the front faces of the steps. All the inscriptions are executed in metal letters fixed to the stone.

References to the Long Crendon War Memorial can be found at

https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/8040 and https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/115279 as well as many others.

 

The Names of the Fallen Service Men on the Village War Memorial

1914

1915

1916

1917

1918

1941

Norman F Clements

1942

George H Warner

1943

1944

St Mary’s Church, Long Crendon, War Memorial Board

The War Memorial in St Mary’s Church has a crucifix of Christ flanked by boards bearing the First Word War names in gilt and black lettering.  The inscription reads “To the Glory of God and in Proud Memory of the Men who Fought for Home and Honour”. August 1914 to November 1918 and the Great War of 1939 to 1945.

In addition to the names of the fallen in the First World War are details of their rank and regiment.

Our investigations have found some anomalies between the two War Memorials and we will attempt to resolve these over time.

We also intend to put records of past Remembrance Day parades on this page in due course.

The Photographs will be replaced once we have taken new ones now that the Memorial has been steam cleaned.

Now read the amazing detail in the publication

“WORLD WAR ONE IN LONG CRENDON”

By Pat Mullan Completed in 2018

A detailed history of the people listed on the two War Memorials who died in the First World War .

Click below to view the document.