Please follow the right-hand pointer above if you would like to see a biography of all the men on the memorial
Front of memorial |
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Pte A. G. AKERS. 2nd O.B.L.I. Pte H. AKERS. Rl West Kents L.Cpl H. ALLUM. 2nd 4th O.B.L.I. QrM. Sergt H. BAKER. 1st O.B.L.I. L.Cpl F. C. BURBOROUGH. 5th O.B.L.I. Pte J. B. CROSS . Q.O.O.H. L.Cpl G. H. CUMMINGS. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte T. C. DEARLOVE. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte P. J. EVANS 8th Glos. Regt Rifleman R. FAULKNER 2nd Batn K.R.R.C. Pte E. GOUGH. R.A.M.C. L.Cpl F. GRAY. 5th O.B.L.I. Pte F. GREEN. Rl Fusls Cpl A. HARLEY. Rl Berks 1st Class Stoker C. HARTWELL. R.N.R. Pte L. HEATH. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte T. MADDEN. 1st O.B.L.I. Pte R. MATTHEWS. 10th Batn K.S.L.I. Cpl F. NEWPORT. R.F.A. Pte C. PHIPPS. O.B.L.I. Bombr W. PLUMRIDGE. RFA Sergt Majr R. SHRIMPTON. Q.O.O.H. 2nd Class Seaman E. W. SHRIMPTON. U.S.N. Pte P. J. SMITH. Rl Berks Pte C. TOLLEY. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte J. WALTON. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. [The two men named Shrimpton |
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THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE —— THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THEIR FRIENDS OF NEW MARSTON |
Left side of memorial |
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IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN FROM THIS VILLAGE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR[S] 1914–1919
An “S” was later added to the words “GREAT WAR” above, and the following text was squeezed in at the foot of the left side. AND 1939–1945 TOM BAILEY FREDERICK MATTHEWS JAMES CRANK GEORGE THOMAS WALTER E. GILES NORMAN WAKELEY GORDON HERN DENNIS WARD ERNEST MACKENZIE GEORGE WIGGINS KENNETH YOUNG
[On base of left side, presumably an omission] ARTHUR KERRY
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Right side of memorial |
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GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
The New Marston War Memorial stands on the east side of the Marston Road, between the junctions of William Street and John Garne Way, adjacent to St Michael’s Primary School. It was originally set up to remember the dead of New Marston in the First World War, who are listed on the front of the pillar facing the road. It is a Grade II listed structure (List Entry No. 1440072).
Unlike the memorials in the other villages of Headington and Marston, this memorial is set on the public highway rather than in a church. This is because New Marston only became an ecclesiastical parish in its own right in 1963, following the consecration of St Michael & All Angels Church. At the time this memorial was erected, the north side of New Marston (then just William Street and part of the north side of the Marston Road) was in the parish of St Andrew in Old Headington, while the south side (Edgeway and Ferry Roads, and part of the south side of the Marston Road) was in the parish of St Nicholas in Old Marston.
The memorial is about 2.75 metres (nine feet) tall and was built by Messrs Axtell & Son. It comprises a stone cross mounted on a large stone column, which stands on a two-stepped base. The memorial and steps stand on a raised platform area with red tiles, reached from the pavement by two pairs of three steps.
It was unveiled on 21 December 1919 by Mrs G. Herbert Morrell of Headington Hill Hall. The Last Post was sounded, and there was a service conducted by the Revd J. H. Mortimer, Vicar of Marston.
This First World War Memorial later had the dead of the Second World War added to the left-hand side.
References
- Imperial War Museums database: New Marston War Memorial
- War Memorials online: New Marston War Memorial
- Oxford Journal Illustrated, 24 December 1919, p. 1: Photograph of the unveiling of the war memorial
- Three poems by children of St Michael’s CE (Aided) Primary School, Marston Road