Showcase result

Combe Martin

The grade II listed war memorial in the north Devon village of Combe Martin is a Celtic cross of dressed grey Cornish granite on a plinth and a three-stepped base. There is an Art Nouveau cast bronze plaque on the front face of the plinth commemorating the fallen of World War I and another bronze plaque on the riser of the top step commemorating the fallen of World War II. The memorial stands in its own garden, with a stone wall and wrought iron gate, beside the graveyard of St. Peter ad Vincula in the centre of the village. It is surrounded by a flowerbed and a path leads up to it and around it. A seat stands beside the path. The memorial is 4.73m high.

In 2005, War Memorials Trust gave £500 towards work to replace and widen the path, replace the step up from the lane into the memorial garden with a ramp, to repair the wall surrounding the memorial garden and to re-point the memorial. The first two measures made the memorial more accessible for wheelchairs.

The inscription on the World War I plaque reads

To the honoured memory of
the men of this parish
who gave their lives for their country
in the great war 1914 – 1919
"They died that we might live"

And on the World War II plaque

Also to the honoured memory of the men of this parish
who gave their lives for their country in the world war 1939 – 1945

The names of all the fallen are inscribed on the plaques.

The memorial was commissioned by the Combe Martin war memorial committee which was set up following a public meeting in February 1919. Money was raised by concerts and public subscriptions, as well as by a donation at the winding up of the Combe Martin Friendly Society, and was built on land donated by the Misses Toms, daughters of the late rector. It was designed and erected by William C. Willis and unveiled and dedicated in May1921 by the Bishop of Exeter.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM1598
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 25530

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

Return to search results | Start a new search