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Alsager

This war memorial consists of a sandstone carved figure of a First World War serviceman in full uniform and putties, carrying a rifle with bayonet. The soldier surmounts a granite column which bears the names of the men who died in service during World War I, incised and painted black into one face. The names of the fallen from World War II are incised into another face of the column which also bears a metal plaque of the Town Arms. The war memorial is located at the junction of Sandbach Road South and Ashmores Lane, Alsager in Cheshire.

In 2013 War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £2,130 towards repairs to the memorial. In the past a temporary wooden bayonet had been re-attached to the rifle using a cement mortar, then later strapped for support using a metal wire, which had subsequently begun to rust. The rust can stain and cause damage to stone so it is important that any ferrous metals which are exposed to the elements are either appropriately maintained and treated or are removed, where appropriate. In this case, as the strapping was a temporary solution so it was removed and the bayonet was carefully taken down. All traces of cement were removed from the surrounding stone and a new, historically accurate bayonet was carved. New stainless steel armature was led into the hand and secured using an epoxy resin, then the rifle end was formed around that and the bayonet was attached to the rifle using a screw thread. Finally, the memorial was cleaned using a low pressure steam cleaning system and the sky-facing joints were re-pointed using a lime mortar.

The land on which the memorial stands was donated by Dr Crutchley and the cost of the erection of the memorial was raised by public subscription. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on 19th June 1920.

The inscription on the memorial reads:

In grateful memory of
the Alsager men
who fell in the Great War
1914-1919
they loved not their lives
unto the death

Also in grateful memory
of the Alsager men
who gave their lives
for their Country
in the World War
1939-1945

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM6400
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 42742

War Memorials Online: 130754

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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