Oswaldtwistle War Memorial

Heritage listing

Details The memorial stands at the south side of the junction of Union Road and Rhydding Street. It is constructed of polished granite and consists of a tall obelisk supported by a pedestal on a three-tier stone platform. The lowest step of the platform is surrounded by a rake of setts (the setts replace an earlier arrangement of larger cobblestones). The obelisk has a deep cornice and is surmounted by the bronze figure of winged Victory standing on a globe, holding a laurel wreath in her hands. The pedestal has a moulded cornice and base, and a convex front (west) face supporting a second plinth inscribed GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN/ THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS. S.JOHN XV.13. Upon this, with battle dress and weaponry depicted in detail, are the bronze figures of an infantryman, bayonet fixed, defending a wounded comrade who lies at his feet. On the north and south sides, a carved ship’s prow emerges from the base of the obelisk, each bearing a small, seated bronze figure of Victory who clasps in her hand, respectively, a winged laurel wreath resembling an RAF pilot’s brevet, and a laurel wreath encircling the Royal Navy insignia. These neo-classical features are derived from the Roman columna rostrata (rostral columns) erected to commemorate naval victory and are unusual in a civic war memorial: another example can be seen at Greenock in Scotland, sculpted by Alexander Proudfoot. The base of the obelisk’s east face has a cartouche. The front face of the pedestal is inscribed ERECTED BY/ PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS TOWN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The south face is inscribed 1939 - 1945/ TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ WORLD WAR/ ALSO THOSE WHO DIED IN THE/ KOREA

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.