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Quorn Temporary War Memorial
On Saturday 22nd December 1917 a temporary war memorial was unveiled in the centre of the village on the ‘Little Green’, which is known today as the Memorial Gardens on Quorn Cross. It stood just in front of where the permanent war memorial stands today.
The structure was made of oak and paid for by Mr William Wright, who lived at One Ash on the Loughborough Road, to the north of Quorn. He was one of the owners of Wright’s factory and had lost his own son, Harold Wright, in September 1915.
The names of the men were raised in gilded lettering, with the regiments and ranks picked out in red. Above was written:
“Temporary War Memorial
To Quorn men who have fallen
For truth and honour, for justice and freedom.”
The verse on the back of the unveiling ceremony service sheet reads:
“You who come after them
You who come after them, you shall have reaping:
Ease for the pain they bore, joy since they sighed;
For the long watch they kept, you shall have sleeping;
You shall live greatly because they have died.”
Upon it's unveiling Major Brockington spoke these poignant words in December 1917:
"I declare this war memorial open. Henceforth this spot of earth will be sacred to the memory of those, our sons and brothers, who have died that England may live. Perhaps in the course of time this temporary memorial which the wise forethought of our dear friend and neighbour has erected here will be replaced by a permanent memorial to the men of Quorn who have passed from our earthly regard, but whose spirit still lives with us. But certain it is that no more fitting or more beautiful memorial that this of Mr Pick's will stand here. It is just what we want - in simplicity and purity of design matching the simplicity and purity which should reign in our hearts as we pass this spot. No soldier will pass this spot without saluting his dead comrades. No father, brother, wife or sister, though their hearts be bowed with grief, will pass this spot without an uplifting of the spirit, and she whose burden of sorrow is heaviest of all will lift up her heart with pride in the son she bore and gave to her country in her country's direst need. As for me, most of the names on this memorial are those of old boys of Leicestershire schools. I tried to be with them at the first, and my highest hope is that even mow I may do something which is worthy of the sacrifice they had made. I declare this war memorial open, and I proclaim this spot of earth in Quorn sacred to and hallowed by the memory of our sons and brothers who have fought and died for us."
There were 48 names on the memorial when it was unveiled, but many more would follow.
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Submitted on: |
2009-07-19 |
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Submitted by: |
Kathryn Paterson/Sue Templeman |
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Artefact ID: |
343 |
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Artefact URL: |
www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=343 |
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Print: |
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