"HIGHAM WAR MEMORIAL"
To the eternal memory of the men of HIGHAM who died in the service of their country
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Thirteen in the Great War of 1914-1919 and four in 1939-1945 on the monument
The Higham war memorial is at the village green, Lower Green, Higham, an obelisk of Portland stone on a three stepped base. The top is ornamented with
sprigs of ivy on all four sides. The names of the casualties are inscribed on the sides, giving rank, initials, surname and unit, in surname order.
There are thirteen names for the Great War and four for World War 2. It was dedicated and unveiled on 4th September 1920 and was restored in 1995.
The builders in 1920 were Messrs H G Neville & Son. Details appeared in the Bury Free Press on 11th September 1920.
HIGHAM'S HEROES - Monumental Tribute Unveiled - An Impressive Ceremony
Saturday was a red-letter day in the history of the little village of Higham; a holy day and one of solemn remembrance, when parishioners assembled on the Lower Green to join in the service of dedication of the memorial erected to the memory of their kinsmen who fell in the late war. These simple rural monuments are rapidly growing in number and one is conscious of the fact that the dedication ceremony is invariably marked with the same solemnity as that which obtains in larger and more populous centres.
The memorial at Higham was covered with a large Union Jack, and the village folk and visitors from neighbouring parishes, many of whom formed a triangular assemblage around, betrayed signs of emotion.
The service was conducted by the Rev.David Barclay, of Braintree...........Major R.L.Barclay, addressing the gathering, said that they met that afternoon to unveil and dedicate a monument to Higham men who fell in the service of their country during the Great War. There was not a name on the monument that they regarded as lost and they expressed their deepest sympathy with those who were bereaved..........Mrs Bachelor Russell addressed the gathering, and unveiled the memorial.....
The monument, which was designed and supplied by Mr.H.G.Neville, stonemason, of Mildenhall, is of Portland stone with carved ivy sprays at the top and the inscription in black capitals. It is enclosed with black tubular railing, the posts of which have acorn shaped head and the rails a spear-head finish.
The inscription on the face (north) is:-
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED IN EVER GREATFUL REMEMRANCE OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR GOD AND KING FOR THE FOR FREEDOM AND FOR PEACE
IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919
below which are the names for the Great War
and on the east face:-
1939 -1945, below which there are the four names from that conflict.
Within the church are two simple wooden plaques either side of the entrance, one detailing those who served in the Great War and another for those who fell in World War Two
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.