Memorial Title

West Hallam (Temporary)

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a temporary WW1 war memorial cenotaph at West Hallam, Derbyshire.

Images

No images are available.

Locations

Last known location:
Station Rd
West Hallam
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
DE7 6JR

NGR:
SK 42476 41814
(Estimated)
(Map opens in new window.)

Location details:
The memorial was erected in a field east of Station Rd, adjacent to Mapperley Collieries Memorial Hall (now demolished). )It may have been the field that is now the recreation ground.)

Type

Overall type: Cenotaph.

Overall condition: Lost.

Description:

A temporary cenotaph, probably made of wood.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Cenotaph	Not known	-	-	-	Lost
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

[None]

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	First World War (1914-1919)	Totals
Action or event	Not stated
Number died	0	0
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names

Administration

Custodian: Not known

Local authorities:
From WW1: West Hallam Parish Council, Shardlow Rural District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1959: West Hallam Parish Council, South East Derbyshire Rural District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: West Hallam Parish Council, Erewash Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History and Conservation

25th July, 1920: A parade marched from Smalley Common to West Hallam where a drumhead service was held on land adjacent to the Memorial Hall. It was organised by the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers (Smalley Common Branch) and led by Rev E F Scofield, Vicar of Stanley. Other branches present were from Derby, Ilkeston, Bulwell, Horsley, Woodhouse [sic], West Hallam, Ripley, Scarcliffe, Stapleford Heanor, Langley Mill and Eastoood, and music was provided by the band of the 5th Battn, Sherwood Foresters. A temporary cenotaph had been erected, around which floral tributes were laid.

References

Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal; 30th July, 1920; p3 col3: a brief report on the service.

Ibid; p13 col6: a slightly less bief report on the service.

Wood, Roger; pers comm: a number of emails in 2018-2019.

Comments

This memorial record is generated by the two press reports but some ambiguity and mystery accompanies it. Why did the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers hold their drumhead service with a temporary cenotaph on the field adjacent to the memorial hall at the same time that the Mapperley Collieries tablet was unveiled at the hall? The hall and the tablet were clearly managed by the Mapperley Colliery Company: did the National Federation have some feeling of exclusion and decide to stage their rival ceremony with their own temporary memorial? Or was it all just a confusing coincidence? Press reports treat these as two entirely separate events and, pending any clarification, it seems logical to do the same here.

Can you add to or correct anything on this page? Let us know.