The War Memorial in Broadhembury is a Devonshire granite cross and is located in a small enclosure at the road junction opposite the Drewe Arms. The plain Latin cross rises from a tapering pedestal, which stands on a two-stepped octagonal base. The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads:
1914 – 1919 IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES
THAT OTHERS
MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM
LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT,
THAT THEIR NAMES BE NOT FORGOTTEN
The First World War names are recorded on faces of the upper step, whilst the Second World War details are recorded on the south face of the pedestal. The Boer War soldier is recorded on the front face of the lower step.
One of the names listed on the memorial is of Major Adrian Drewe of the 262nd Battery, the 47th Heavy Artillery Group, the Royal Artillery. Oldest son of Julius and Frances Drewe of Castle Drogo, near Moretonhampstead. Born in 1891. Died 12th July 1917 aged 26. Mentioned in dispatches.
Castle Drogo is now a National Trust property which contains a room dedicated to the memory of Major Adrian Drewe. Cedric his younger brother inherited Broadhembury and his grandson Michael Drewe is now custodian of the village.
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.
A Memorial cross, as well as a Memorial hall, was raised at Broadhembury as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The cross was supplied by Messrs J. Easton and Sons of Exeter and was unveiled on 21st August 1921. As well as the details of 12 men who died during the First World War, the cross included the name of one man who had died whilst on service during the Second Boer War. Following the Second World War the names of five men who died in that conflict were also added to the cross.
Gb svaq gur Svany pbbeqvangrf va guvf Zhygv lbh jvyy arrq gb fbyir guvf fubeg chmmyr
N 50° (A)0 .06(B)' W 003° 16 .(C)(D)(E)'
Where A = The total number of characters in the Regiment that 2nd Lieut Kenneth Lister Jamesserved in (lower left hand side pane) - as shown on the memorial
Where B = The total number of characters of the war that E. Parry fought in (excluding spaces) - (front lower panel) - as shown on the memorial
Where C = The number of characheters in the name of the person who served in the 3rd Devon on the lower right hand plinth - surname only
Where D = The number of characheters in the name of the person who served in the Royal Army Service Corps - surname only
Where E = The county of the Regiment that M.W. Jewel served in
Further information on the names listed on the War Memorial can be found by clicking HERE
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The series is dedicated to those who fought for their country. "We will remember them!”
If anyone would like to place a War Memorial Cache of your own then please do so. We would ask if you do so please contact Just-us-Two through their profile page or justustwo1013@gmail.com so they can keep track of the numbers
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