A Study of the Origins and Development of Great War Memorials in the County of Gloucestershire (1917-1933)
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A STUDY OF THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF GREAT WAR MEMORIALS IN THE COUNTY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE (1917-1933) Robert Taylor A thesis submitted to The University of Gloucestershire In accordance with the requirements of the degree of Masters by Research (History) June 2012 i AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations of the University of Gloucestershire and is original except where indicated by specific reference in the text. No part of this thesis has been submitted as part of any other academic award. The thesis has not been presented to any other education institution in the United Kingdom or overseas. Any views expressed in the thesis are those of the author and in no way represent those of the University. Signed ii ABSTRACT Building upon the work of key writers such as Jay Winter and Robert Bushaway, this work examines the memorials of the First World War as historic structures and records the local monuments’ origins and original purpose within the county of Gloucestershire in contrast to previous work on war memorialisation which has focussed more on on the role of the monument in reflecting and strengthening national identity. After an initial county-wide survey, three in-depth case studies of different sized communities, (the village of Cam, the town of Cirencester and the City of Gloucester), are used to analyse the factors that most significantly influenced the location, form, and timing of the erection of different war memorials at these locations. In addition to considering the significance of community over national factors, the study explores the importance of different community size and of the groups within those communities that most significantly determined memorial construction, including the bereaved, the church and local government, and servicemen and ex-servicemen. Further, the study examines the different memorial forms considered such as non-secular and secular, monumental and utilitarian forms and other factors such as location, iconography, and the form of the Roll of Honour in the development of memorials that were acceptable to the local populations. The research has drawn upon many previous academic studies on the subject of Great War memorialisation, focussing on the historical perspective to compare how local memorials were used in commemoration and how they maintained significance at local memorial sites within the County of Gloucestershire. Through the analysis of this local involvement of the generation at the time in the development process, the conclusion provides insight as to whether the local war memorial’s role continues to provide the intended importance and understanding as a place of local or national significance. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHOR’S DECLARATION…………………………………………………….. ii ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………….. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………… iv LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………...vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………. x INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………….... 1 Personal engagement with war memorials………………………………………1 Historiography………………………………………………………………………7 Methodology ……………………………………………………………………….16 CHAPTER ONE – History of Gloucestershire Memorials.………………. 23 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 23 Brief History of National Forms of Commemoration……………………………24 History of Great War Memorials within Gloucestershire ………………………28 Early Public War Memorial Forms ……………………………..…................. 32 Analysis of General Memorial Forms in Gloucestershire .............................. 35 Rolls of Honour on Memorials ...............................…………………………… 39 Commemoration of Women on Memorials ……………………………………. 44 Other National Influences – The Symbols ……………………………………. 46 Further Impact of the Introduction of National Commemoration Forms ....... 52 Importance of the Inscribed Dates ………………………………………………53 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER TWO – Village of Cam Case Study.....………………………….. 57 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 57 Chronological Timeline of the Cam Memorial Development Process........... 59 Memorial Form .............................................................................................. 61 Style of Roll of Honour .................................................................................. 62 Utilitarian versus Symbolic War Memorial Forms .……….…………………… 63 Concerns of Location .................................................................................... 66 iv Iconographic Symbols ................................................................................... 67 The Public (Secular) War Memorial Decision Making Process .................... 70 Non-Secular War Memorial Decision in Lower Cam ………………………… 71 Style of the Public Memorial ........................................................................ 74 The Public Memorial Building Process ......................................................... 75 The Unveiling Ceremony ……………………………………………………… 77 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 78 CHAPTER THREE – Town of Cirencester Case Study ……………..……. 81 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 81 Historiography ............................................................................................... 82 Cirencester Memorial Development Process Timeline ................................. 85 Memorial Calvary Cross Origins and Philanthropic Support .................................................... 85 Creation of the Memorial Cross ......................................................... 89 Memorial Cross’s Iconography ……………………............................ 90 Roll of Honour ................................................................................... 93 Location ............................................................................................. 95 The Memorial Hospital…………………………………………………………... 96 Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour .................................................... 98 Cirencester Unveiling Ceremonies.............................................................. 99 After The Unveilings – Public Reaction To the War Memorial Forms ..........103 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 105 CHAPTER FOUR – City of Gloucester Case Study ……………….……. 109 Introduction……………………………………………….……………………… 109 Choice of City ................................................................................... 111 Timeline of the City of Gloucester’s Great War Memorial Schemes. 112 Gloucester Public Memorial (Scheme 1 – 1919-1920) ………………………113 Gloucester Public Memorial (Scheme 2 – 1920-1923) ………………………117 Gloucester Public Memorial (Scheme 3 – 1923-1933) ………………………139 Beginnings-Gloucestershire Regimental Memorial (1923-1925)... 139 Final Public Memorial Scheme (1930-1933) ................................. 141 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 148 v CHAPTER FIVE – Conclusion ………………………………………………. 153 APPENDICES ............................................................................................. 163 APPENDIX 1 – NEWS ARTICLE - COMBE DOWN APPENDIX 2 – GLOUCESTERSHIRE WAR MEMORIAL TABLE APPENDIX 3 – CIRENCESTER WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OPENING SPEECH BY COUNTESS BATHURST APPENDIX 4 - GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL RULES FOR MEMORIALS IN THE CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS APPENDIX 5 – REGULATIONS OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................ 181 vi LIST OF FIGURES Introduction Figure No. Photo Title Pg No. Figure 1. Combe Down Roll of Honour showing name of F.A. Patch .............2 Figure 2. Prestbury Memorial Damage and Repair Oct 2011 - April 2012 ..... 3 Figure 3. Great Rissington Church Roll of Honour ......................................... 4 Figure 4a. Weathering of the Great Berrington Memorial ............................... 5 Figure 4b Inscription on St Peter’s Cheltenham ............................................ 5 Chapter 1 –Development of Great War Memorials in Gloucestershire Figure 5. London Cenotaph ........................................................................ 26 Figure 6. Postcard - Procession of Unknown Warrior .................................. 27 Figure 7. Tomb of Unknown Warrior ............................................................ 27 Figure 8. Naunton Roll of Service ................................................................ 29 Figure 9. Bledington Roll of Honour ............................................................. 29 Figure 10. Kingscote Permanent War Memorial .......................................... 31 Figure 11. Tibberton Memorial Tablet .......................................................... 32 Figure 12. Coln St. Dennis Private remembrance....................................... 32 Figure 13. Woodchester War Memorial ....................................................... 34 Figure 14. Salperton War Memorial ............................................................. 34 Figure 15. Cirencester Memorial ................................................................. 35 Figure 16. Bishops Cleeve Memorial ........................................................... 35 Figure 17. Aldsworth Memorial ................................................................ 35