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Summary

Granite cross erected to the memory of Lieutenant Alfred Lewis Noon by his parents. Lt. Noon died on Easter Monday 1918 of wounds received at Happlincourt and was buried in the British cemetery at Namps au Val in France. The memorial cross was dedicated in June 1919 by the Bishop of Crediton who also dedicated the war memorial tablet inside the church on the same day.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1448476: Lieutenant Noon Memorial Cross, St Matthew's Churchyard, Butterleigh

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• COMMEMORATIVE STONE (Dedicated, XX - 1919 AD to 1919 AD)

Full description

Historic England, 2017, Memorial Cross to Lieutenant AL Noon, The Churchyard, St Mattew's Church, Butterleigh, Cullompton (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360325.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add Memorial cross to Lieutenant AL Noon to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

After examining all the records and other relevant information, and having carefully considered the architectural and historic interest of this case, the criteria for listing are fulfilled. The memorial cross to Lt AL Noon at Butterleigh is therefore recommended for listing at Grade II.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
The memorial cross to Lt AL Noon, which stands outside St Matthew’s Church in Butterleigh, is
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 a family and this local community, and the
sacrifice it made in the First World War;

Architectural interest:
A simple yet well-proportioned memorial cross in granite, reminiscent of a churchyard or preaching cross;
Group value:
With the Parish Church of St Matthew (Grade II*-listed).

Historic England, 2017, Memorial cross to Lieutenant AL Noon, The churchyard, St Matthew's Church, Butterleigh, Cullompton, Devon (Correspondence). SDV360257.

Notification that Historic England is currently considering the memorial for listing as part of its First World War Commemoration project and has completed a consultation report setting out the factual information 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.
As well as collective monuments raised by communities or corporate bodies, such as schools
and businesses, many families found ways to commemorate the death of their relation. Very
commonly, names were added to existing funerary monuments. Some individuals were
commemorated by the addition of a feature to an existing building, such as new windows for
churches, or on tablets or wall plaques. Occasionally, freestanding memorials were erected,
such as the statue to Private GW Jackson raised by his mother in the churchyard at
Carlton-in-Lindrick (Grade II) and the cross to Arthur and John Tisdall at St George’s Church,
Deal (Grade II*).
The parents of Lt Alfred Lewis Noon arranged for a cross to be erected in the churchyard of
the Parish Church of St Matthew (Grade II*-listed), marking the death of their son. Noon’s
father was the vicar. Alfred Noon served in 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. He died of
wounds on 1 or 2 April 1918, aged 20, and was buried in Namps-au-Val British Cemetery. In
late-March 1918, the battalion was holding the line near Happlincourt Chateaux: Noon likely
received his injuries during one of the fierce German attacks that eventually broke through on
25 March.
The cross was dedicated on 16 June 1919 by the Bishop of Crediton, who on the same day
dedicated the war memorial tablet inside the church that marks the deaths of four local
servicemen in the First World War (including Lt Noon), and the service of a further 17 who
returned.
Details
The granite cross stands outside the church’s south entrance, alongside a churchyard path.
The rough-hewn cross has the monogram IHS carved at the centre of the cross arms. The
cross shaft rises from an octagonal four-stepped base, in the manner of a churchyard or
preaching cross. The inscriptions, in applied metal letters, are recorded on the front faces of
each step.
(top step) TO THE GLORY OF GOD
(step) AND IN PROUD AND/ GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ ALFRED LEWIS NOON/
LIEUTENANT (ACTG. CAPTAIN)/ 2ND BATT. DEVONSHIRE REGT.
(step) BELOVED YOUNGEST SON OF THE/ REV. A.K. NOON (RECTOR OF THIS/
PARISH) AND MRS NOON,/ WHO DIED APRIL 1ST (EASTER MONDAY)/ 1918 OF
WOUNDS RECEIVED WHILST/ LEADING HIS COMPANY AT HAPPLINCOURT/ AGED 20.
(bottom step) BURIED IN THE BRITISH CEMETERY. NAMPS-AU-VAL-FRANCE/ "IN SURE
AND CERTAIN HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION/ TO ETERNAL LIFE."/ R.I.P.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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