Heybridge War Memorial (EHER 49668)

A First World War memorial unveiled in 1921. It is made from Portland limestone and is located on Goldhanger road inside the front entrance of the cemetery (EHER 40187).

June 2017. Grade II listed. First World War Memorial unveiled in 1921. It is made from Portland limestone and is located on Goldhanger road inside the front entrance of the cemetery. It is approximately 3m high and is in the form of a cross with a tapering shaft and chamfered edges. A stone relief sword is on the front. It is supported by a two-tier octagonal base upon which rests an octagonal plinth, the front face of which is inscribed: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOUR OF THE / MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL DURING THE / GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the other faces of the plinth. There are three stone tablets affixed to the base. The central one is inscribed: ‘AND THOSE KILLED/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945’, and the flanking tablets bear the names of the fallen. The war memorial in Heybridge commemorates the fallen from the First World War. It was built by Messrs Wray and Fuller and was unveiled by Brigadier-General R C de Crespigny, on 10th July 1921. The ceremony and unveiling was recorded in the Essex Chronicle, Friday 15th July 1921, in an article entitled 'Hopes for England'. General De Crespigny was quoted in the article as saying: 'those men has answered their country's call and made the greatest sacrifice a man could make'. He went onto say: 'In 1914 there were under 500 of military age in the parish and of these over 350 served during the war, and 35 of their names appeared on the cross. This was a grand record, and Heybridge might be justly proud of it.' <1>