The war memorial is located in a small area enclosed by posts carrying a spiked chain, with a small gate to the front, in a graveled garden to the south of St Jude’s Mission Church (not listed). It is a rough-hewn Latin cross of granite with an incised cross decorating the front face. The cross stands on a two-stage square plinth, standing on a two-stepped square base.
The inscription is in black incised lettering on the front face on the upper stage of the base, reading THIS CROSS WAS DEDICATED BY THE/ PARISHIONERS OF NEW LEAKE & EASTVILLE/ IN MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1918 with the commemorated names below on the lower stage. The 12 names, in three columns, are followed by GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A/ MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised outside St Jude’s Mission Church as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local communities who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial for the communities of New Leake, Eastville and Midville was unveiled on 30 October 1921. It was built for a cost of £250. A special service was held, after which the memorial was unveiled by two local ex-servicemen, Mr W Schofield and Mr W Parkinson.
NAMES ON THE WAR MEMORIAL AT
ST JUDE’S (EASTVILLE/NEW LEAKE)
ROLL OF HONOUR
“This cross was dedicated by the parishioners of New Leake and Eastville in memory of the men who fell in the Great War 1914 – 1918”
1914 – 1918
P Clay
W Clements
E Dawson
E Fussy
F Garrill
H Hansard
T Naylor
F Roberts
W Scoot
L Smith
H Toyne
C Walker
Names on the brass plaque inside St Jude’s
This was in Midville Church
C Atkinson
C W Butler
J L Butler
A C Chantry
T C Clapham
H Garrard
F Harrison
J T Haw
J W Horry
P Parker
W M Parker
J C Watson
H Woodcock