War memorials in Old Buckenham

A chance to remember

Everyday many of us pass the War Memorial on the Green. It is based on the Sword of Sacrifice design by Sir Reginald Blomfield in Portland stone on an octagonal plinth and stepped base. It was bought and paid for by Mr and Mrs Lionel Robinson of Old Buckenham Hall and unveiled on 31st August 1919. It commemorates those who were killed in the first and second world war and is inscribed with the wonderful words:
"If his dust is one day lying
in an unfamiliar land
(England he went for you)
O England sometimes think of him
of thousands only one
in the dawning or the noonday
or the setting of the sun
as once he thought of you
This war memorial is similar to hundreds across the country. The design was identical to those raised and maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) around the world. Although the Old Buckenham War Memorial is not under the care of the CWGC (the War Memorial Trust have provided a grant to support its upkeep and it is registered as WM1459, www.warmemorials.org) there are four graves in All Saints Church graveyard which are:

Private HJ Bowen Royal Fusiliers G/26220 26 February 1919
Private E Loveday East Surrey Regiment 206189 26 March 1919
Driver CA Day Royal Field Artillery 895322 17 August 1919
Gunner RH Pretty RA 1699995 21st June 1944
At this time of the year where we remember the first world war and subsequent wars, 2017 marks the centenary of the establishment of the CWGC and marvel at the wonderful work it does to preserve the memory of those killed in those two World Wars. It is now an intergovernmental organization of six independent member states (UK, Australia, New Zealand. Canada, India and South Africa) whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars. The Commission is currently responsible for the continued commemoration of 1.7 million deceased Commonwealth military service members in 153 countries. Since its inception, the Commission has constructed approximately 2,500 war cemeteries and numerous memorials. The Commission is currently responsible for the care of war dead at over 23,000 separate burial sites and the maintenance of more than 200 memorials worldwide.