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Lakenheath war memorial is 20ft high Portland stone obelisk on a 75 inch square plinth in the High Street at the junction with Mill Road. It is on a small green which originally contained a pond (filled in in the 1950's) It was unveiled by Captain Owen A. Clerk on the 31st March 1921 The cost of the site is given as £245. The actual cost of building by Mr. J. Cracknell is not known. In the past the memorial has been over-cleaned and this has worn away the lettering more rapidly than usual. It therefore required a gentle non-invasive approach such as steam cleaning which removed no material from the stone surface. The memorial was also shelter coated in 2009 – this was the application of a thin binding solution to consolidate the microscopic loose particles of stone which can become loosened by weathering. The War Memorials Trust gave a grant of £879 for this work. Many of the names from the Great War can also be seen on other memorials in the area, Mildenhall, Kenny Hill, Beck Row etc. "Impressive scenes were witnessed at the town of Lakenheath on Easter Day, the occasion of the unveiling of the memorial to 63 fallen men- the war having taken a heavy toll of the men who left to serve their country. The memorial is an obelisk of massive proprortions. The monument stands facing the High Street, near the Pond, and is quite central and public, being within a few hundred yards of the ancient and historic parish church made famous through the memorials to the Kitchener family. The Committee had invited the ex-Service men to attend the unveiling, and they responded, assembling at the Council Schools with the members of the Shepherds, Foresters and Oddfellows Lodges, and led by the Lakenheath Brass band, proceeded to the monument in procession wearing their regalia. The scholars of the parish church, Wesleyan, Baptist and Independent Sunday Schools also attended with their officers and teachers. The names were shouded in a Union Jack, and numbered 63. The monument is erected on good firm ground, comprising of gravel and sand. The foundation is made of Portland cement concrete. The inscription reads:" This monument has been erected by the people of Lakenheath in honour of 63 gallant men of this parish who had laid down their lives in the Great War, 1914-1919, as a lasting record of their sacrifice and in gratitude for the victory achieved. Their names liveth for evermore". Then followed the 63 names. Mr R. Bilsland, J.P., Chairman of the Committee, presided and said they had assembled to do honour to the men who had given their lives for them. Mr.Owen A. Clark, ex-Mayor of Bury St.Edmunds in a stirring address said that he had the deepest sypmathy for the bereaved, as, like them, he had lost through the war, wife, child and brother and half himself, in this fight of right against might. He hoped all who would give a thought for these men and not be indifferent let them remove their hats and the women offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Mr Clarkthen unveiled the monument. Ex-Corpl. Ernest Royal (Brandon) sounded the "Last Post". The Rev. Isaac Morris, the Rector, gave a brief address. Dr. A.J.Pickworth also spoke in felicitous terms. The Rev. Isaac Morris gave the blessing and the "Reveille" was sounded by ex-Corpl. Royal. Prayer was offered by Mr. A.G. Spencer (Thetford).A large number of floral tributes where afterwards placed on the steps." |
A reproduction of the leaflet handed out on unveiling day Easter Sunday 1921
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In addition, hopefully still somewhere in the village, there was the Foresters Memorial. This was a Roll, framed in oak, at one time in the Club Room of the Bell Hotel. The Bury Free Press of 25th November 1920 reported:- FORESTERS' ROLL OF HONOUR - Unveiling Ceremony at Lakenheath- Another unveiling ceremony was witnessed on Saturday evening, at the Club Room of the Bell Hotel, Lakenheath, being the fourth which has taken place within the parish. This was a roll of honour in memory of brethren of the Court "Anchor of Hope", of Foresters, who made the great sacrifice in the war. Bro. J.W.Horrex C R presided. Brother Dr. A.J.Pickworth said he had resided at Lakenheath 38 years and had known their fallen brethren from infance. He spoke of the meaning of their sacrifice and proceeded to unveil the roll, drawing aside the Union Jack and reading the names as follows:- "In loving memory of our brothers who died for King and Country in the Great War, 1914-1918: Bros D.A.Ashman, A.Bailey, H.Brown, F.W.Bullen, G.T.Carman, A.Coleman,J.H.Dicks, P.R.Dicks, N.Flack, Z.Harrison, C.Harding, A.Horne, J.Matthews, J.Nicholas, W.Palrey, A.Rutterford, A.E.Rutterford, E.A.Rutterford,C.V.Rutterford." Bro.J.H.Bullen (secretary) said they had 120 members who joined up and they lost 20 of these, 18 were killed, one died of fever and one was accidentally killed. There was at the outbreak of war 416 members. The roll was framed in oak, the work of Bro.A.Presland. The cost was defrayed by members' special subscriptions. |