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Photos of Wigan
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Wigan Album

War Memorials

4 Comments

Standish War Memorial Committee 1920
Standish War Memorial Committee 1920
Photo: Rev David Long
Views: 1,504
Item #: 34081
Presumably taken at the time of its unveiling on April 17th 1920. A few things to note - the clergyman, the Revd. WC Chrimes, who I think was Minister of the Methodist Chapel at Shevington Moor - rather than the Rector of St Wilfrid's. By this time plans for the Peace Gate were well under way - but the Council wanted a non-sectarian memorial of its own. Secondly, note there are no names - there were some strong feelings that names should not appear on the memorial - Cllr. Talbot reported that one mother had said she'd scratch it off herself if her son's name was inscribed on a memorial. However, opinions seem to change when it was seen that names were appearing on most memorials erected around the area - and money was raised to inscribe the names in 1923. I don't know if the mother also changed her mind.
The memorial is now much higher than in 1920 - a new block was inserted under the WW1 names and dedications to commemorate the WW2 fallen.
Copy of the photograph in Standish Library.
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Comment by: Mr K on 4th November 2022 at 19:19

And another thing is, the dates, 1914-1919.
Most say 1914-1918, which is technically incorrect.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 5th November 2022 at 08:18

Most don't say 14-18. It's fairly evenly split on public memorials.

Comment by: Jim Orrell (mother Neva Fairhurst) on 6th January 2023 at 16:09

Very interesting, especially the comments. I don't suppose there is a better scan, when this is downloaded the figures and names are not very clear. I know from experience some of these old pics can have excellent detail.

Comment by: Jim Orrell on 8th January 2023 at 14:32

Further to Rev David Long comments re "Revd. WC Chrimes, who I think was Minister of the Methodist Chapel at Shevington Moor" The Fairhurst's of Standish and surrounding area were very strong in the Methodist churches of the surrounding area.
There are a few Henry Fairhursts, does anyone know which one this is? The most likely one I have Is Harry Fairhurst, butcher, born 1875 married Harriet Davis.

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