Rededication of Ilfracombe WW1 Memorial

In 2012 Sue Garwood had the idea that we should as a town celebrate the end of World War 1 and remember all those who did not return to Ilfracombe. A number of meetings with interested parties later including Ilfracombe Town Crier Roy Goodwin who amongst many other things thought up the name ‘Ilfracombe Says Thank You’ and the event was born.

Funding was obtained from the National Lottery, a book was written and compiled by Jane Dendle using letters home from Ilfracombe men who gave their lives in the Great War, a collection held by Ilfracombe Museum.

A plaque was created for each soldier or sailor from Ilfracombe who did not return and these were carried by local people, many of them with a historic family connection in a parade on 2 August 2014 from the Pier to Runnymede Gardens where the name of each person was ‘CRIED’ by visiting and local town criers organised and led by Roy Goodwin before being placed on a memorial wall.

The final action of the event was the creation of a permanent memorial honoring these men along with an information board so that Ilfracombe and visitors to our town could remember. Sue Garwood sourced the stone for the upright slate from a local quarry and using the old Round Table wishing well as a base a local contractor carried out the building work. Workshops were held by a local artist, Kim Sayers, for the community to take part in creating the mosaic and in November 2015 the memorial was dedicated.

Sadly, over time, in spite of several repairs to the mosaic the weather took its toll and the memorial was in a poor state. Round Table have come to the rescue and have re-worked the top with stones – one to represent each fallen person. Again led by Roy Goodwin, now retired town crier, the memorial will be re-dedicated on 28 July 2024. All are welcome, please arrive in Runnymede Gardens in time for a 3.00pm start.

There will be a few words from Roy about the restoration, who will then ask everyone to make circle with right hand touching memorial. There will be a citation by the Mayor or Royal British Legion and one minute silence.

This will be followed by the reading of two of Woodbine Willie’  poems and three  Music Hall Songs the Soldiers would have sung –  Lilley of Laguna, On Mother Kelly’s  Doorstep & Pack up your troubles.

Finishing with Bless ‘em all.