Betchworth

Betchworth cross (date approx) - Taken by B Woods 01 Jan 2000

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Betchworth inscription (date approx) - Taken by B Woods 01 Jan 2000

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Inscription of names on plinth - Taken by Russell Walters 13 May 2013

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Inscription of names on plinth - Taken by Russell Walters 13 May 2013

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Inscription of names on plinth - Taken by Russell Walters 13 May 2013

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Memorial - Taken by Russell Walters 13 May 2013

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Betchworth War Memorial - Taken by Ian Capper (geograph) licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons License 05 Jul 2013

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Betchworth War Memorial - Taken by Ian Capper (geograph) licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons License 25 May 2014

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Betchworth War Memorial - Taken by Ian Capper (geograph) licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons License 25 May 2014

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Betchworth 0007 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0008 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0009 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0010 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0011 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0001 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0012 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0002 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0003 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0004 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0005 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Betchworth 0006 - Taken by David Larkin 15 Jun 2014

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Reference WMO/100758

Address:

St Michael's Church

Church Street

Betchworth

RH3 7DX

England

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War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace

Description: Latin cross

Materials:

Stone Stone (any)

Lettering: Leaded

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)
Second World War (1939-1945)

About the memorial: The grade II listed war memorial in the Surrey village of Betchworth, on the north bank of the River Mole, stands in front of the west door of St. Michael’s church. It is a Portland stone monument comprising a cross on a tall shaft on a octagonal plinth, standing on top of three concentric octagonal steps. There is a dovecot design at the top of the shaft. World War I names are inscribed on the octagonal plinth, World War II names on the angled base of the plinth. WW2 names added and rededicated 22 May 1949

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Betchworth unveiling and dedication 15 May 1921 as reported in Surrey Mirror (Friday 20 May 1921)
BETCHWORTH WAR MEMORIAL. A TRIBUTE TO THE NOBLE DEAD. An impressive ceremony, which aroused feelings of sorrow, mingled with pride, took place the at St. Michael’s Church, Betchworth, on Whit Sunday afternoon, when the Cross erected in memory the men of Betchworth who gave their lives in the Great War was unveiled and dedicated. The ceremony of unveiling was performed by Major-Genl. Sir Geoffrey Feilding, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., C.M.G., D.S.0., whose long and intimate association with the parish well known, and that of unveiling (sic) by Canon Sanders. M.A., for over 30 years Vicar Betchworth. The Cross was designed by Mr. Leonard Martin, F.R.I.B.A., architect, of Waterloo-place. Pall Mall, and the sculptors were Messrs. Gilliam and Sons, Dorking. Wrought in Portland stone, the Memorial Cross occupies a position opposite west door of the church, and records the names of the 29 men, with their rank and regiments, etc., who fell in the Great War. The names have been engraved and painted on the sunk panels of the octagonal “die” of the memorial, which stands upon three octagonal bases, and plinth, surmounted by a moulded cap and base supporting octagonal column with ornate tracery capping and pedimental Latin cross.

THE ROLL OF HONOUR (not copied)

MEMORIAL SERVICE Prior to the ceremony a memorial service was held in the church, which was filled to its utmost capacity. Those present, in addition Sir Geoffrey Feilding, included Brig.-Genl. E. B. Cuthbertson, M.V.O. C.M.G. Brig.-Genl. C. Goulburn, Col. Sir J. Norton-Griffiths, Bart., M.P., Major H. Goulburn, J.P., and Capt. Bird, R.A.F. Sir Benjamin Brodie Bart., occupied seat in the choir. The seating arrangements carried out under the supervision of Mr. Julian Whittington. While the congregation were assembling the organist (Mr. E. Pointer) played with much feeling selections appropriate music from Spbor, Guilmant and Handel. 
The impressive service was conducted by the Vicar of Betchworth (the Rev. T. G. Longley). The hymn “’How bright these glorious spirits shine," was followed by the recital of the opening sentences “I am the Resurrection and the Life” “Greater love hath no man than this —that a man lay down his life for his friends” and “I heard a Voice from heaven saying unto me.” The choir led the singing of the 23rd Psalm “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and the Lesson (Revelation xxi., 1-7) was read the Rev. R. B. Dand Vicar of Brockham). Prayers followed the singing of the hymn “For all the Saints who from their labours rest.” The service concluded with the pronouncement of The Grace. As the procession of choir, clergy and parishioners wended its way the churchyard the organist played “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” 
THE UNVEILING. 
With the parishioners grouped around the Cross, the Vicar of Betchworth read the inscription on the central panel, and the names engraved upon the Memorial Cross. 
A GENERAL’S TRIBUTE. 
Major-General Sir Geoffrey Feilding, having unveiled the memorial which was draped with large Union Jack, said he was very pleased to be able to come down to his old village to do honour to those brave men who gave their lives for their King and their country in this last great war, who gave up their lives to prove that England would stand by her word to defend the weak, and that England would remain solid to prove to the world that might was not right, although the greatest military power in the world tried to prove that it was so. Having spoken of the countless men who lost their lives in the war, Sir Percy Feilding, paying a tribute to their heroism, said one thought of those early mornings before a great battle when regiment after regiment marched past, going up to the line, and there was probably the thought in the mind of each one those men as to what the odds were against them coming out alive, yet one saw happy men, going on with cheerful faces and happy at the prospect of taking part in the great battle which was to take place at daybreak on the morrow. One thought of those transport drivers and ammunition carriers before a great battle, the drivers with their waggons going along a road on which there was a barrage, with waggon after waggon in front of them knocked over. Never a man stopped or hesitated, but pushed on, determined to feed those guns he was responsible for feeding lest they should be short of ammunition in the great battle that was to take place. And again, they thought of the ambulance men working behind the lines, both drivers and carriers, determined to bring back all the wounded whatever the dangers were and whatever the fire might be which was likely kill them; never a man wavered, each man was determined to do his work in that great organisation in order that no man should suffer because he did not do his duty. It was to do honour to those men that they were assembled there that day. They grieved for their loss, and sympathised with the relatives and friends had lost those they loved—husbands, brothers, sons. And yet, with all this sadness, they felt glad when they looked back on those days when they felt how a great Empire like ours stood together, when men from all parts of the world, like Crusaders came, filled with the determination to fight in the great cause of their old country, and how men of all classes, of all creeds and politics, came together determined to do their beat for the country in which they were born, and which they believed in. That was the bright side of the picture, and at the end of the war there England stood in the great and mighty array of the Allied forces which had 11 million men in arms at the top her military glory as the greatest military power in the world. And now it was for them to do honour to these men who gave up their lives, and to pull together as one man that England might be as great in peace as in war. He had just travelled home from visiting distant ports of the world, and wherever he had been was horrified at the enormous propaganda that was going on—in America, Australia, and everywhere he went against England; propaganda to pull her down from the high pedestal she occupied, and to defeat those objects she gained in the war. It was therefore all the more essential that they should do their duty in the same spirit that these men gave up their lives for this great country.
THE DEDICATION
Canon Sanders recited the prayer dedication as follows;—“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost, we dedicate this Memorial Cross to the Glory of God, and in memory the men in this parish who have fallen in the Great War. May their example inspire to courage in the greater war against all evil. May their memory ever burn brightly in those who are here or elsewhere remember their deeds, and strengthened by their fellowship, look forward re-union with them in the inheritance of the saints in light." 
Addressing those present Canon Sanders said he need hardly say how glad he was to be there on that occasion in the old parish in which he had lived so long. They had assembled to dedicate this monument the Glory of God, and in honour of these men who went forth from that parish and gave their lives in the war. They had erected that monument not lest they should forget these brave men, or those who had relationship or friendship with them, and they were not likely to forget what they owed them. What they had to ask themselves was: whether they lived their lives to the Glory of God? How were they going to regard this memorial so that it might be help to them never to forget to pay these men all that they owed to them. Let them suppose for a moment, either in the body or out of the body, in some real way these men were present amongst them, and looking upon what they were doing; these heroes whom had been talking about. Would they be pleased, would they be satisfied, would they say it was work worthwhile what they did for the old country, or would they say it was a mistake when they thought of the miners who were not at work, the millions of  grates with not a bit coal, and therefore no fire; the millions who were unemployed, with their numbers increasing, children going to school breakfastless, long queues of men and women for doles just to keep them alive, and, they saw in the paper on Friday, one dropped dead exhausted? He ventured to think that the unknown warrior borne to that honourable grave in Westminster Abbey, as the representative of all their great warriors, would, if he could speak, as he saw people unable to get house anywhere, and unemployed, would say: “If you look after returned warrior you need not take very much, trouble about the unknown one." Did they not think the finest memorial these men would for them determined to do their duty towards God and their duty toward their neighbour. They felt the state of Ireland to-day was something of which they were ashamed, and the state of old England was something for which they might well be ashamed. As a nation they had forgotten God and His service. They had forgotten, he thought, a very great deal that they owed to these brave men who died for them, and to make England better place to live in. Let them, he concluded, go away that day filled with the determination that that should no mere formal offering, but that living the greater service of God they would best do real honour to these men who had fallen. 
Following other prayers the Benediction was pronounced, and amid tense silence two buglers of the East Surrey Regiment sounded the “Last Post,” and as its weird echoes died away, the Reveille, the symbol of the great awakening, the consolation and hope of the Christian Church. With reverence, floral offerings were deposited at the base of the Cross in mute but eloquent tribute the brave men who from this parish went forth and gave up their lives in a righteous cause.

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Inscription:

SIDE ONE: "REMEMBER,/ LORD IN THY/ KINGDOM/ THESE OUR/ BRETHREN/ WHO LIVED & DIED/ IN FAITHFUL/ SERVICE OF/ OUR COUNTRY."/ 1914 - 1919 OTHER SIDES: (NAMES) PLINTH BASE: 1939 - 1945 (NAMES)

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Listing grade:

Grade II (England)

Listing URL:

https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1391783

Unique listing reference number:

1391783

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