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Two-stepped base surmounted by four stage plinth, shaft and Eleanor Cross. Embodies the characteristics of a Roman milestone. Inscription on the top three stages of the plinth. WW1 names carved onto stone tablets. WW2 names on bronze plaques. Rectangular bronze plaque with Korea inscription in raised lettering fixed to 9 o'clock face of lowest plinth.
Photo courtesy of Peter Gillings

UKNIWM Ref - 26975

Inside the nearby Town Hall is written a contemporary note giving details of the memorial including the following explanation : - The symbolism of the Retford War memorial must be understood before the memorial can by appreciated. The idea of the main structure is that of the " Roman Milestone" only reversed, as the places inscribed are the sites of the principal actions where the men commemorated laid down their lives , and the distances computed from the memorial. The latern forming the top stage embodies the mediaeval custom of maintaining a 'Latern of the dead' to be lighted every evening in perpetuity and kept burning until dawn in token that the memory of the departed is ever present, during the hours of darkness as well as in the daytime. Designed by Leonard W. Barnard (of Cheltenham), built by R.L. Boulton & Sons; unveiled 14th September 1921 by Sir Frederick Milner, dedication by The Venerable The Archdeacon of Newark, Egbert Hacking; WW2 bronze plaques unveiled and dedicated on 6th May 1951; Korean War plaque unveiled and dedicated 17th August 2008. Historic information source(s): Retford Times, 16th September 1921 All photo's courtesy of Peter Gillings

Memorial location
Names on Memorial

STANLEY ADWICK - Stanley Adwick

GEORGE WILLIAM ALLEN - George William Allen

JOHN WILLIAM ALLISON - John William Allison

JOHN ANDERSON - John William Anderson

FRANK ARMSTRONG - Frank Armstrong

GEORGE BALDOCK - George Baldock

FREDERICK BANNISTER - Frederick Bannister

FREDDIE BANNISTER JNR. - Frederick Charles Bannister

FREDERICK WILLIAM BARBER - Frederick William Barber

FRED F BARLOW - Fred Barlow

WILLIAM W BEARDSALL - William Beardsall

DAVID D BELL - David Bell

WALTER W BELL - Walter Bell

WILLIE W BELL - William (Willie) Smith Bell

FRANK F BENNETT - Frank Bennett

FRANK F BETSON - Frank Betson

ERNEST WILLIAM E W BIRD - Ernest William Bird

HARRY TOMLINSON H T BIRKETT - Harry Tomlinson Birkett

WALTER EDWARD W E BLAKE - Walter Edward Blake

WILLIAM W BOOTH - William Booth

THOMAS ARTHUR T A BRADLEY - Thomas Arthur Bradley

CHARLES C BRAMMER - Charles Brammer

ERNEST E BREDDY - Ernest Breddy

JAMES J BREDDY - James Breddy

JOHN J BREDDY - John Breddy

WILLIAM W BREDDY - William Breddy

FRANK F BRIGGS - Frank Briggs

LEONARD L BRIGGS - Leonard Briggs

EDWARD E BROUGHTON - Edward Broughton

S BROUGHTON - Sydney Broughton

ALFRED A BROWN - Alfred Brown

NOEL N BUTTON - Noel Button

EDWARD E CASBURN - Edward Casburn

CAMPBELL C CAWOOD - Campbell Caward

ARTHUR C CHANDLER - Arthur Clark Chandler

LEONARD L CHANDLER - Leonard Chandler

CHARLES M C M CHAPMAN - Charles Martin Chapman

JOHN J CHAPMAN - John Chapman

ARTHUR CLARK - Arthur Clarke

Reginald W CLARK - Reginald William Clark

FREDERICK HERBERT F H CLARKE - Frederick Herbert Clarke

PERCY P CLEMENTS - Percy Clements

W H COLLINGBURN - William Henry Collingburn

SAM S COOK - Samuel Cook

WILFRED W COOKE - Wilfred Cooke

GEORGE G COOKE - George Cook

HERBERT H T COOLING - Herbert Cooling

JOHN J COOLING - John Cooling

G W COOPER - George William Cooper

JAMES J CORDALL - James Cordall

BERNARD A CORKE - Bernard Aloysius Corke

THOMAS HENRY T H COWLING - Thomas Henry Cowling

CHARLES COWRIE - Charles Cowrie

GEORGE G COX - George Cox

HERBERT H CRISP - Herbert Crisp

HERBERT H CROSSLAND - Herbert Crossland

JOSEPH ? J C CUTLER - Joseph Reginald Cutler

JOHN WILLIAM J W DARWIN - John William Darwin

FREDERICK WILLIAM F W DAVIES - Frederick William Davies

F E V DAVISON - Frank Edward V Davison

GEORGE G DAVISON - George Davison

HORACE H DAVISON - Horace Davison

LEWIS L B DAVISON - Lewis Thompson Davison

WALTER W DAVISON - Walter Davison

P E Davison - P E Davison

WILLIAM W DAWSON - William Dawson

HARRY H DEXTER - Harry Dexter

HARRY H DIXON - Harry Dixon

JOHN ARTHUR J A DIXON - John Arthur Dixon

JOHN J P DIXON - John Dixon

JOSEPH J DIXON - Joseph Dixon

LESLIE L DIXON - Leslie Leonard Dixon

JOHN J DODSON - John Dodson

PERCY WILLIAM P W DOE - Percy William Doe

ROBERT JAMES R J DRAKEFIELD - Robert James Drakefield

GEORGE HENRY G H DUDDRIDGE - George Henry Duddridge

JOHN J DUGDALE - John Thomas Dugdale

ERNEST E EAITCH - Ernest Eaitch

JOHN RADLEY J R EDDISON - John Radley Eddison

FRED F EDE - Fred Ede

ARTHUR A ENDERBY - Arthur Aaron Enderby

WILLIAM W EYRE - William Eyre

FRANK F FARRAND - Frank Farrand

FRANCIS JAMES F J FLINTON - Francis James Flinton

RICHARD R FORD - Richard Ford

ARTHUR A FRARY - Arthur Frary

WALTER W FUGUAL - Walter Fuguel

ARTHUR A FULLARD - Arthur Fullard

ROBERT COLTON R C GAGG - Robert Colton Gagg

GEORGE WILLIAM G W GAUTREY - George William Gautrey

GEORGE G GILL - George Gill

WILLIAM W GLEADEN - William Gleaden

CHARLES C GRANDE - Charles Grande

JOSEPH J GRANDE - Joseph Grande

CHARLES HENRY C H GRANT - Charles Henry Grant

HERBERT H GRANT - Herbert Grant

ALBERT A HARRIS - Albert Harris

FREDERIK F HARRISON - Frederick Harrison

G C HARRISON - George Carmichael Harrison

GEOFFREY G HARRYMAN - Geoffrey Charles Harryman

GEORGE G HARTLEY - George Hartley

HARRY H HASLAM - Harry Haslam

GEORGE WILLIAM G W HAUGHTON - George William Haughton

ABRAHAN A HEATH - Abraham Heath

EDGAR E HEEDS - Edgar Heeds

ALFRED A HEMPSALL - Alfred Hempsall

John Hempshall - John Hempshall

ALBERT A HEWITT - Albert Hewitt

A E HEWITT - Ernest Hewitt

Alfred Hewitt - Alfred Hewitt

HORACE E HIGGS - Horace Edgar Higgs

JOHN DISTANCE J D HILTON - John Distance Hilton

JAMES ERNEST J E HINDLEY - James Ernest Hindley

ALBERT A HINKS - Albert Edward Hincks

EDGAR E HIRST - John Edgar Hurst Hirst

JOHN EDGAR HURST HIRST - John Edgar Hurst Hirst

EDWARD LINTON E L HODSON - Edward Linton Hodson

JOHN WILLIAM J W HODSON - John William Hodson

WALTER W HOLEY - Walter Holey

William Holland - William Holland

CLARENCE PERCY C W HOLLIDAY - Clarence Percy Holliday

TREVOR T HOLLIDAY - Trevor John Holliday

HERBERT H HOLLINGSWORTH - Herbert Hollingsworth

ARTHUR CLARENCE A C HOULDEN - Arthur Clarence Houlden

ALFRED THOMAS A T HOWGATE - Alfred Thomas Howgate

ARTHUR EDWIN A E HOWGATE - Arthur Edwin Howgate

ALFRED A HOWLET - Alfred Howlett

BERNARD CANNING B C HUNTSMAN - Benjamin Canning Huntsman

HERBERT H HUSBAND - Herbert Husband

GEORGE WILLIAM G W INGALL - George William Ingall

SIDNEY S JACKSON - Sidney Jackson

FRED F JACKSON - Fred Jackson

DAVID D JAMES - David James

CECIL WILLIAM C W JARMAN - Cecil William Jarman

JOSEPH J JOHNSON - Joseph Johnson

WILLIAM W JOHNSON - William Johnson,

JAMES WALTER J W JOWETT - James Walter Jowett

THOMAS T JUBB - Thomas Edward Jubb

HERBERT KAYE - Herbert Kaye

E KING - Ernest King

CHARLES HENRY C H KIRTON - Charles Henry Kirton

JOHN WILLIAM J W LACEY - John William Lacey

JOSEPH J LAMB - Joseph Lamb

CECIL C LAND - Cecil Land

ALLEN A LEE - Allen Lee

WILLIAM HAROLD W H LEE - William Harold Lee

CHARLES C LEVICK - Charles Levick

CHARLES WILLIAM C W LINDLEY - Charles William Lindley

SIDNEY S LISTER - Sidney Herbert Lister

THOMAS LISTER - Thomas Neville Lister

CHARLES C LIVERSIDGE - Charles Liversidge

GEORGE G LIVERSIDGE - George Liversidge

FRED HAROLD F H LOFTUS - Frederic Harold Loftus

EDGAR E MARKHAM - Edgar Markham

JOHN J MARKHAM - John Markham

WILLIAM W MARKHAM - William Hiley Markham

EDWARD E MARSH - Edward Marsh

JOHN J MARSH - John Michael Marsh

THOMAS HENRY T H MARSH - Thomas Henry Marsh

ROBERT R MARTIN - Robert Martin

WILLIAM W MEAD - William Mead

GEORGE G MERRILLS - George Merrills

WILLIAM W MERRILLS - William Merrills

C W MERRYWEATHER - Charles Walter Merryweather

SIDNEY S MILLER - Sidney Miller

CHARLES C MILLINGTON - Charles Millington

SIDNEY MILNER - Sidney Milner

FRANK F MORLEY - Frank Morley

JOHN J MORLEY - John Morley

GEORGE ERNEST G E MORRIS - George Ernest Morris

F S MORTON - Ernest Sydney Morton

HAROLD H MOTTASHED - Harold Mottashed

JABES J MOUNTAIN - Jabez Mountain

JAMES EDWARD J E NEWSTEAD - James Edward Newstead

ALFRED A F NICHOLSON - Alfred Nicholson

ARTHUR MARSHALL A M OAKDON - Arthur Marshall Oakden

ALBAN OFFORD - Alban Offord

ALBERT E ORR - Albert Ernest Orr

GEORGE G OSTICK - George Ostick

FRED F OSTICK - Fred Ostick

CHARLES C OSTICK - Charles Ostick

HARRY WRIGHT H W OSTICK - Harry Wright Ostick

HORACE PALETHORPE - Horace Palethorpe

Jim Palethorpe - Jim Palethorpe

Wm HARDY PALMER - William Hardy Palmer

GEORGE H PARKER - George Henry Parker

JACK PARKIN - John Parkin

ALFRED A PATTISON - Alfred Patterson

THOMAS T PATTISON - Thomas Pattison

WALTER W PATTISON - Walter Pattison

WILLIAM W PATTISON - William Pattison

VINCENT V PATTISON - Vincent Patterson

GEORGE G PAWSON - George Damell Pawson

WILLIAM W PEATFIELD - William Peatfield

JOHN J PERRON - John Perron

JAMES J PETTINGER - James Pettinger

A PHILLIPSON - Arthur Phillipson

FRANK F PICKARD - Frank Pickard

JOSEPH V PIGGOTT - Joseph Victor Piggott

ROBERT SIDNEY R S PLANT - Robert Sidney Plant

HARRY H RANDALL - Harry Randall

WALTER W RANDALL - Walter Cecil Randall

Herbert RAYNOR - Hubert William Rayner

JOHN J REDFERN - John Redfern

ALFRED REGISTER - Alfred Register

W N REYNOLDS - Walter Nicholas Reynolds

WILLIAM W RICHARDSON - William Richardson

GEORGE G C W ROBINSON - George William Clarence Robinson

JOHN ROBINSON - John Bacon Robinson

J H ROBINSON - John Henry Robinson

JOSEPH EDWARD J E ROBINSON - Joseph Edward Robinson

WALTER W C ROGAN - Walter Rogan

VALENTINE WILLIAM V W ROGERS - Valentine William Rogers

JOHN J ROSSINGTON - John Rossington

RICHARD R ROSSINGTON - Richard Rossington

J RUTLAND - J Rutland

ARTHUR A SANDERSON - Arthur Sanderson

SAN S SANDERSON - Sam Sanderson

HERBERT H SAUNDERS - Herbert Saunders

PERCY P SCOTT - Percy Scott

WILLIAM ALEC W A SESTON - William Alec Seston

JOHN J SHAW - John Shaw

JOHN HERBERT J H SHAW - John Herbert Shaw

SAMUEL S SHAW - Samuel Shaw

ARTHUR A SLINGSBY - Arthur Slingsby

ROBERT R S SLY - Robert Sly

E ALBERT E A SMITH - Albert Edward Smith

H SMITH - Harry Smith

NATHANIEL N SMITH - Nathaniel Smith

ERNEST E SMITH - Ernest Smith

GEORGE JAMES G J SMITH - George James Smith

JAMES J SMITH - James Smith

T SMITH - Thomas Smith AKA Cocking

THOMAS T J SMITH - Thomas Joseph Smith

FRANK F SNOWDEN - Frank Snowdin

ALFRED A SPENCER - Alfred Spencer

JOHN WILLIAM J W SPENCER - John William Spencer

GEORGE G SPRAY - George Spray

JAMES J SPRAY - James Spray

MARK M STANLEY - Mark Stanley

F J STOCKDALE - Frederick John Stockdale

FRANK F STOCKDALE - Frank Stockdale

WALTER W STOCKDALE - Walter Edwin Stockdale

CHARLES C STOCKS - Charles Stocks

HARRY H SUMMERSCALES - Harry Summerscales

ALBERT A SUTTON - Albert Sutton

HARRY H SUTTON - Harry Sutton

JOHN J SUTTON - John Sutton

HENRY H SWANNACK - Henry Swannack

CYRIL C SWIFT - Cyril Ivan Swift

CHARLES C TALBOT - Charles Talbot

HENRY H TALBOT - Henry Talbot

GEORGE WILLIAM G W TALLENTS - George William Tallents

DAVID D TANNER - David Tanner

CHARLES WILLIAM C W TAYLOR - Charles William Taylor

EDWIN H E H TAYLOR - Edwin Hutchinson Taylor

GEORGE GILBERT TAYLOR - George Gilbert Taylor

THOMAS T TAYLOR - Thomas Taylor

WILLIAM W TAYLOR - William Taylor

JAMES WALTERS J W THEAKER - James Walters Theaker

William Thompson - William Thompson

JOHN J T THOMPSON - John Thompson

GEORGE WILLIAM TINKER - George William Tinker

THOMAS T TINKER - Thomas Tinkler

G TOMLINSON - John George Tomlinson

JAMES TOMLINSON - James Tomlinson

LEONARD TOMLINSON - Leonard Tomlinson

B W TOWNROW - Bertie William Townrow

GEORGE TURNER - George Turner

HARRY TURNER - Harry Turner

J TURNER - Joseph Henry Turner

H VALLANCE - Herbert Vallance

S VALLANCE - Samuel Vallance

HAROLD M VESSEY - Harold Mellor Vessey

WILLIAM WADE - William Wade

W H WALKER - William Henry Stamford Walker

ERNEST WALKER - Ernest Walker

ANDREW WARD - Andrew Ward

SAMUEL WARDLE - Samuel Wardle

HAROLD WATERFIELD - Harold Waterfield

ALFRED WELTON - Alfred Welton

JACK WEST - George Henry West

EDGAR C WHITE - Edgar White

GEORGE WHITLAM - George Whitlam

TOM WILKINSON - Thomas Wilkinson

WILLIAM WILKINSON - William Wilkinson

COLIN WILLIAMS - Colin Williams

GEORGE WILLIAMS - George Williams

WILLIAM WILLIAMSON - William Williamson

HAROLD WILLIS - Harold Willis

WALTER WILLIS - Walter Willis

HAROLD WILSON - Harold Wilson

HERBERT WINTER - Herbert Winter

REGINALD P WINTOUR - Reginald Prince Wintour

A WOOD - A Wood

REGINALD H WOOD - Reginald Harold Wood

CHARLES WOODWARD - Charles Woodward

DANIEL WOODWARD - Daniel Woodward

JOHN WOODWARD - John Woodward

B S WOOLNER - Benjamin Samuel Woolner

ERNEST WORTHINGTON - Ernest Worthington

TOM YOELL - Thomas George Yoell

Photos
  • Two-stepped base surmounted by four stage plinth, shaft and Eleanor Cross. Embodies the characteristics of a Roman milestone. Inscription on the top three stages of the plinth. WW1 names carved onto stone tablets. WW2 names on bronze plaques. Rectangular bronze plaque with Korea inscription in raised lettering fixed to 9 o'clock face of lowest plinth.
Photo courtesy of Peter Gillings
    Retford - Market Square memorial cross - Two-stepped base surmounted by four stage plinth, shaft and Eleanor Cross. Embodies the characteristics of a Roman milestone. Inscription on the top three stages of the plinth. WW1 names carved onto stone tablets. WW2 names on bronze plaques. Rectangular bronze plaque with Korea inscription in raised lettering fixed to 9 o'clock face of lowest plinth. Photo courtesy of Peter Gillings
  • Photos shows panel giving details of the principal action locations and their distances.
    Maket Sqaure memorial cross - Photos shows panel giving details of the principal action locations and their distances.
  • Photos showing a panel with an inscription written by Rudyard Kipling as follows : - 
They willingly left the unachieved purpose of their lives in order that all life should not be wrenched from its purpose.
    Retford - market square memorial square - Photos showing a panel with an inscription written by Rudyard Kipling as follows : - They willingly left the unachieved purpose of their lives in order that all life should not be wrenched from its purpose.
  • Photo shows the following inscription : -  Erected by public subscription in memory of the men of Retford and district who gave their lives during The Great war 1914-1918
    Retford - market square memorial cross - Photo shows the following inscription : - Erected by public subscription in memory of the men of Retford and district who gave their lives during The Great war 1914-1918
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen A - C
    Retford- Market Square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen A - C
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen C - D
    Retford market square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen C - D
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen D - H
    Retford - market square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen D - H
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen H - L
    Retford - market square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen H - L
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen L - P
    Retford - market square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen L - P
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen P - S
    Retford - market square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen P - S
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen S - T
    Retford - market square memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen S - T
  • Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen T - W
    Retford - market sqaure memorial cross - Photos shows the panel containing the names of the fallen T - W
  • This photo shows the war memorial in Retford Market Place C1925.
Courtesy of Bassetlaw museum photo collection.
    Retford Market Place Memorial - This photo shows the war memorial in Retford Market Place C1925. Courtesy of Bassetlaw museum photo collection.