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Summary

Memorial unveiled in 1922 to commemmorate those who died in the Exeter War Hospitals from wounds received during their overseas service.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building 1452594: City of Exeter War Memorial Cross, Higher Cemetery

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WAR MEMORIAL (World War I - 1914 AD to 1918 AD (Between))

Full description

Walls, S., 2010, The Materiality of Remembrance: Twentieth Century War Memorials in Devon, EXE046 (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV355902.

Cross of Sacrifice to those of Exeter who died from WWI Wounds.

WW1Cemeteries.com, 2014, Exeter Higher Cemetery, Photo (Website). SDV355831.

The memorial bears a plaque stating "City of Exeter" above the city coat of arms and an inscription reading: 'In memory of the men who died in this city, from the effects of their service overseas in the Great War, 1914-1918'.

Ordnance Survey, 2014, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV355681.

'War Memorial' marked.

Historic England, 2017, The City of Exeter War Memorial Cross, Higher Cemetery, c16m to the west of the Southern Mortuary Chapel, Higher Cemetery, St Marks Avenue, Exeter, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360590.

Historic England is currently considering the memorial for listing as part of their First World War Commemoration project. They have completed a consultation report which sets out the factual information of the site upon which they will base their decision.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration
ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both
the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also
the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the
main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
In addition to the combat deaths overseas, more than 1.6 million United Kingdom service
personnel were wounded: many of these men returned home, either hospitalised or
demobilised. To commemorate 187 men, whose deaths whilst in-patients in the Exeter War
Hospitals were the result of their overseas service, the Exeter War Hospitals Organisation had
asked to raise a memorial in Higher Cemetery. Permission was granted by the city Estates
Committee in November 1919.
The design for a memorial cross by City Architect Mr J Bennett had been approved by March
1920. The estimate for laying out the burial plot and erecting the memorial was £1,400.
Although the scheme was caught up in the councillors’ debate about suitable locations for war
memorials in the city, it was unveiled on 13 July 1922 by the Mayor, Mr PF Rowsell, and
dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter. The works had been completed by Messrs Easton and
Son of Exeter. As well as local men, servicemen from across the UK and from
Commonwealth countries are buried in the plot and commemorated by the memorial.
Details
The Devon granite memorial cross stands at the centre of the First World War burial plot at
the west side of Higher Cemetery, aligned with the Southern Mortuary Chapel (Grade II) and
close to the cemetery lodge and Northern Mortuary Chapel (both Grade II-listed). The slender
cross, ornamented with a small reversed sword on the face of the cross-head, rises from an
octagonal plinth that stands on a low stone base. Bronze plaques are fixed to the faces of the
plinth.
The main plaque, ornamented with the arms of the City of Exeter cast in relief, records the
principal dedicatory inscription. That reads CITY OF EXETER/ IN MEMORY OF/ MEN WHO
DIED IN/ THIS CITY FROM THE/ EFFECTS OF THEIR/ SERVICE OVERSEAS/ IN THE
GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The commemorated names are listed alphabetically on the other
plaques.

Historic England, 2018, City of Exeter War Memorial Cross, Higher Cemetery, Higher Cemetery (Approx 16m west of the Southern Mortuary Chapel), St Marks Avenue, Exeter, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360846.

Notification that the war memorial has been added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
It was recommended for listing at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War.
Architectural interest: a slender war memorial cross in granite, with a strong visual association with the Southern Mortuary Chapel and surrounding burials.
Group value: with the cemetery lodge and the Northern and Southern Mortuary Chapels (all Grade II-listed).

Historic England, 2018, National Heritage List for England, 1452594 (National Heritage List for England). SDV360653.

city of Exeter War Memorial Cross, Higher Cemetery.
Summary of Building
First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1922.
Reasons for Designation
The City of Exeter War Memorial Cross, which stands in Higher Cemetery, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War.
Architectural interest:
* A slender war memorial cross in granite, with a strong visual association with the Southern Mortuary Chapel and surrounding burials.
Group value:
* With the cemetery lodge and the Northern and Southern Mortuary Chapels (all Grade II-listed).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
In addition to the combat deaths overseas, more than 1.6 million United Kingdom service personnel were wounded: many of these men returned home, either hospitalised or demobilised. To commemorate 187 men, whose deaths whilst in-patients in the Exeter War Hospitals were the result of their overseas service, the Exeter War Hospitals Organisation had asked to raise a memorial in Higher Cemetery. Permission was granted by the city Estates Committee in November 1919.
The design for a memorial cross by City Architect Mr J Bennett had been approved by March 1920. The estimate for laying out the burial plot and erecting the memorial was £1,400. A temporary timber and alabaster memorial was set up. Although the scheme was caught up in the councillors’ debate about suitable locations for war memorials in the city, the permanent stone cross was unveiled on 13 July 1922 by the Mayor, Mr PF Rowsell, and dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter. The works had been completed by Messrs Easton and Son of Exeter. As well as local men, servicemen from across the UK and from Commonwealth countries are buried in the plot and commemorated by the memorial.
Details
The Devon granite memorial cross stands at the centre of the First World War burial plot at the west side of Higher Cemetery, aligned with the Southern Mortuary Chapel (Grade II) and close to the cemetery lodge and Northern Mortuary Chapel (both Grade II-listed). The slender cross, ornamented with a small reversed sword on the face of the cross-head, rises from an octagonal plinth that stands on a low stone base. Bronze plaques are fixed to the faces of the plinth.
The main plaque, ornamented with the arms of the City of Exeter cast in relief, records the principal dedicatory inscription. That reads CITY OF EXETER/ IN MEMORY OF/ MEN WHO DIED IN/ THIS CITY FROM THE/ EFFECTS OF THEIR/ SERVICE OVERSEAS/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The commemorated names are listed alphabetically on the other plaques.
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 27 February 2018.
Date first listed: 8th February 2018

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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