War Memorial

Cradley got its war memorial nine years, two months and seventeen days after the end of WW1.

   The base and shaft are made of Portland stone and the name tablets are marble. The whole is mounted on circular steps of York stone. The design by Mr. Stanley Griffiths was accepted in 1920 but difficulties held up the actual building until 1927.The stone mason was Mr. C. R. Davies and Mr. J. M. Tate carried out the building of the cenotaph; the final cost being £457 15s 2d.

   A war memorial was first discussed at the Cradley Parish Council meeting on Tuesday February 18th 1919 and this was reported in the February 22nd edition of the County Express.

   Monday, January 3rd 1921 saw the War Memorial Committee decide to draw up a circular with an illustration of the proposed memorial and an appeal for subscriptions. There was a fairly widespread feeling in the parish that the scheme should incorporate the addition of a recreation ground and public hall.

   On November 22nd 1927 the Cradley War Memorial Committee reported that the war memorial band stand had been erected on the Recreation Ground at Homer Hill and the war memorial stone plinth was ready in the open space in High Street.

   December 20th saw the War Memorial Committee announce that Viscount Cobham had agreed to declare the bandstand open and to unveil the war memorial at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday, January 28th 1928. 1,000 copies of a souvenir programme, containing a picture of the cenotaph and the names of 105 men that fell in the war were printed and sold at 2d. each.

   Two weeks before the unveiling the Rev. W. S. Cooper appealed through the pages of the County Express for the Cradley people to submit the names of any bona fide Cradley man who they thought should be added to those already accepted. A Roll of Honour of 105 names was then printed.

Heavy rain fall on January 28th 1928 caused the proposed format to be changed.