Ugborough Parish War Memorial
At the end of the Great War communities throughout the country sought memorials to remember the “war to end all wars” and those in Devon were no exception. There were three main reasons for the memorials. Some people wanted to celebrate the peace, some to remember those from the community who lost their lives in the conflict and others to record all those who had fought. The story of Devon’s War Memorials is told in a recently published book “Lest Devon Forgets” by Todd Gray. I was surprised to read within, that controversy had arisen in Ugborough parish and subsequently found the following reports in the West Country Studies Library.
Totnes Times dated 8th. February 1919, reported that a public meeting was held in Bittaford to receive suggestions for a war memorial. The suggestions forthcoming included a drinking fountain, a window in the Wesleyan Church, a monument with a lamp on the top, the founding of a scholarship for the benefit of the children of the parish and a parish room or hall for use by everyone.
On the 15th February the same newspaper reported that the Ugborough War Memorial Committee decided to recommend that a tablet bearing the names of those who had lost their lives during the war be placed in Ugborough Parish Church, Avonwick Church (then part of the parish), Bittaford Wesleyan Church and the Congregational Church in Ugborough.
The edition of 1st March recorded that a parish meeting had been held to receive the report of the Committee appointed to consider the various suggestions for a local war memorial. The recommendation was that a slab be affixed in each place of worship in the parish, bearing the names of those who had fallen during the war. This scheme was adopted after discussion and collectors were appointed. Furthermore, the question of the celebration of the peace was considered and a resolution was proposed and seconded that, whilst collecting for the tablets, efforts should also be made to get funds for the celebration of peace. It was decided however, that funds should be collected for only one object.
Subsequent progress is then unreported in the Totnes Times until 19th April, when it appears that changes had taken place. The article records that a protest meeting would be held in Bittaford on the following Saturday, in connection with the war memorial. Apparently some of the residents considered that they had been unfairly treated as the money was collected for a tablet to be placed in the Wesleyan Church. However this decision had been rescinded, as a monument was to be placed in Ugborough village only.
The report of this meeting appeared the following week. The Chairman said that he had moved an amendment at the parish meeting, demanding that Bittaford should have a monument, as passed by the previous parish meeting, which had now been rescinded. The Chairman expressed himself very strongly that the money was specifically collected for a portion to be devoted to a monument at Bittaford. It was moved that a petition be drawn up so that the whole of the inhabitants might back up the Bittaford members of the committee.
I found no further relevant reports, but unless anyone can tell me differently, Bittaford did end up with no memorial.
Todd Gray will be giving a talk in Ugborough in February. Details in the Ugborough Local History Group article.