LH Civic

Memorials - Lostock Hall - Civic War Memorial

Junction of Watkin Lane and Hope Terrace, Lostock Hall, PR5 5RG
Ordnance Survey Grid Reference - SD 54390 25755
IWM War Memorials Register - 42673
War Memorials Online - WMO203356

The memorial stands on the pedestrianised area in front of the Pleasant Retreat Inn. This area was originally by the junction of Hope Terrace and Watkin Lane, when Hope Terrace was open to traffic.

The memorial takes the form of a granite column on a dais of three steps. The column is topped by the figure of a grieving female with a laurel wreath in her hands. The wreath could be symbolic of victory, honouring the dead, or both.

At the time of writing, it is not known exactly when the memorial was erected or dedicated, but judging by the newspaper reports reproduced below, it would seem that the erection and dedication was at some point in the 1930s.

The memorials has the names of 83 men who fell in WW1 and a further 31 names of men who fell in WW2 (names to follow later). The surnames are arranged in alphabetical order starting from the right hand face, moving round to the reverse and finishing to the left hand face. A brief dedication is on the front of the memorial.

THE LOSTOCK HALL AND DISTRICT
WAR MEMORIAL
WILL BE UNVEILED
TO-MORROW (SATURDAY), the 20th December,
at 2 30 p.m., by
Col. C. J. TRIMBLE, C.B., C.M.G., D.L.
LANCASHIRE DAILY POST - Friday 19 December 1924

LOSTOCK HALL WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILING CEREMONY AND DEDICATION. There was a large attendance on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of the unveiling of the Lostock Hall and district war memorial by Colonel C. J. Trimble, C.B., C.M.G., D.L. Amogst those present at the ceremony were Mr. W. Lonsdale, Farington: Mr. D. Jones (chairman), and Messrs. W. Hodson and E. Sanderson (joint secretaries) of the local War Memorial Committee, and local clergy. The Farington St. Paul's troop of Girl Guides were also present.
Col. Trimble, in unveiling the memorial paid tribute to the men of Lostock Hall who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice for their country. After the ceremony the memorial was dedicated by the Rev. W. Worthington, after which the "Last Post" was sounded by local ex-Service men. An impressive two minutes' silence followed, and afterwards the names of the fallen soldiers were read by Mr. T. Newsham. Col. Trimble, supported by the Rev. W. Shepherd and Dr. S. Sharples. The Farington Mill Band played for the hymns. During the singing of "Abide with me." wreaths were placed at the foot of the memorial by the relatives and friends of the fallen. There were also wreaths from Messrs. Thomas Moss and Sons, the Lostock Hall Spinning Co., Ltd., the local R.A.O.B. lodges, and the local Conservative Association. The Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. T. Huntington, after which the National Anthem was sung by all present. The memorial is a figure of "Peace," mounted on a pedestal of granite, and it stands 15ft, 6in. high, and occupies a prominent position at the cross roads of Lostock Hall, Trady Gate, and Farington. LANCASHIRE DAILY POST - Monday 22 December 1924

The first armistice service officially held at the war memorial, Tardy Gate, Lostock Hall was held yesterday afternoon. There was a parade of 170 ex-service men under the command of Capt. S Sharples, who was supported by Capt Snaylem and Coun. R Smith Brindle. The Farington Prize Band led the procession. The procession to the memorial started in Capt. Sharples field in Watkin Lane, Lostock Hall, proceeded through the viallage passing the Lostock Hall Methodist Chapel War Memorial where the salute was given. Col. C J Trimble was in charge of the proceedings at The Tardy Gate Memorial where the service was conducted by Coun. Brindle. Last Post and Reveille were sounded by a member of the band. Colonel Trimble laid the wreath. Mr H Barnish placed a wreath on behalf of the R.O.A.B., whose members walked in full regalia. After the National Anthem had been played, the salute and March Past were taken by Col. Trimble. LANCASHIRE DAILY POST - 8 November 1937

Community Centre, Lostock Hall War Memorial. Lostock Hall and District War Memorial is to take the form of a community centre. This was decided at a meeting in the Turner Memorial Hall, Tardy Gate, last night, when a small committee was elected to work in conjunction with the War Memorial Committee, for the institution of a Community Association to embrace all religious, social and political organisations in the area. Describing the planning, working and objects of an ideal community centre, Mrs. F Mellor, Community Centres Officer to the Community Council of Lancashire, told the meeting that they aim to bring people together and to encourage a spirit of democracy. Such centres, which many places throughout the country are now thinking of adopting as a war memorials, would cater for all interests, cultural and educational activities as well as social and recreational events. The secretary of the War Memorial Committee, Mr C Sumner, said they had made inquiries regarding the possibility of acquiring from the Ministry of Works, the food storage depot at Lostock Hall, for conversion into a community centre. Mr L Budd, (chairman) expressed thanks to Mrs Mellor. LANCASHIRE DAILY POST - 9 October 1946

LOSTOCK HALL WAR MEMORIAL - Over 2000 people, including detachments of the Army, R.A.F. and W.A.A.F., Sea Cadets and ex-Service men's organisations attended the re-dedication of the Lostock Hall Ware Memorial yesterday. The parade in charge of Major E H Leshallas, of Fulwood Barracks, was inspected by Brigadier P C Marinden, OC., 126 Infantry Brigade, supported by Group Captain Coleman OC, RAF, Kirkham. Dr Sharples, president of the Lostock Hall British Legion, unveiled the memorial and the service was taken by Rev P Gresty, Vicar of Inskip. Inskip Church Choir were also in attendance. Following the service, wreaths were laid on the memorial on behalf of the services and also by the chairmen of Preston RDC (councillor W Allsion) and Walton Le Dale U.D.C. (Councillor J Holden). Mr L G Budd chairman of Lostock Hall British Legion organised the ceremony. LANCASHIRE DAILY POST - 14 July 1947

Lostock Hall Civic War Memorial
Image © Charles O'Donnell 2018

All images © Charles O'Donnell 2018

Front (dedication)

PEACE
TO OUR BRAVE FALLEN
1914-1918
1939-1945

Reverse (27 names)

GIBSON HENRY
GIDLOW ALFRED
GORST JOHN W
GREGSON EDWARD
GYNES CHARLES T
HARDMAN WILLIAM
HARDMAN JOSEPH A
HEWITT CHARLES
HIBBERT WILLIAM
HICKLIN FRANK
HILTON THOMAS A
HOLDEN ELIJAH
HUNT RICHARD
JACKSON MICHAEL
KELLET WILLIAM
LIVESEY HERBERT N
MARSDEN HUMPHREY
MCMULLEN JAMES
MELLING THOMAS
MILL SIDNEY
MOLYNEUX WILLIAM
MOLYNEUX RICHARD
MORRIS JOHN
MORRIS RICHARD
MURRAY FREDERICK
NICKSON CUTHBERT H
NUTTER CHARLES

Right (28 names)

ASHCROFT EDWARD
BALDWIN FRED
BALDWIN THOMAS G
BARKER ERNEST A
BARNISH JOHN E
BENNETT JOHN
BIRD WILLIAM G
BLEASDALE ARTHUR
BRADLEY FRANK
BRADLEY RICHARD
BRADLEY JOHN
BROWN ROBERT
BRUNDRETT HENRY
BUCK JAMES
BUCK GEORGE
BUCK FRED
CARR JAMES
CANK THOMAS C
CHARNLEY JOHN
CLAYTON ALBERT E
COWLEY JOHN
DOBSON HENRY
DOOLAN JAMES
DURHAM WILLIAM
DURHAM FRED
EAVES LEONARD
FAIRCLOUGH JAMES
FLETCHER HAROLD M.M.

Left (28 names)

PARK JOHN H
PARKER JOHN
PARKINSON HENRY
PARKINSON WILLIAM
PARR WILLIAM E
PARR STEPHEN
RATCLIFFE CHARLES
RIGBY JOHN
ROBINSON CHARLES
ROSE WILLIAM
SANDERSON THOMAS
SCHULTZ FRANCIS M.M.
SHAW HENRY
SHOLLOIKER FRED
SLATER DANIEL
SMALLEY HERBERT
STIRZAKER ERNEST
STOREY JOSEPH
SWINDLEHURST HENRY
TATTERSALL JAMES
TAYLOR THOMAS
WALTON LAWRENCE E
WATSON HENRY E
WEAVER ANDREW
WINSTANLEY WILLIAM
WISEMAN JOSEPH
WOODS JAMES H
YOUD JOHN J

Charles O'Donnell with Heather Crook
Please email the project with any amendments or corrections
Edited 26 May 2018