The men on
Shilton’s war memorial
In Issue 2 of the Crier, we introduced
you to local historian and writer Jeff
Clements who, over the past few
years, has undertaken considerable
research into the men remembered
on several war memorials in West
Oxfordshire. We asked Jeff if he could
use his knowledge to illuminate some
of the war memorials in and around
our local area. In this edition he looks
at the village of Shilton’s tribute to its
war dead.
Passing through the pretty Cotswold
village of Shilton one cannot fail to be
beguiled by the beauty and serenity of
the view which greets you at its very
centre. Here the narrow roads, laid
down long before the advent of motor
vehicles, open onto a wide open space
dominated by the village pond – formed
by Shill Brook as it passes through the
village on its way to join the Thames. On
its western edge, near the ford, stands
the village war memorial.
Constructed by local mason, J.
Wooldridge, of Cotswold Stone, the
memorial consists of an octagonal
base surmounted by an octagonal
plinth, a square plinth and a tapering
shaft topped by a Celtic cross.
Upon the square plinth there is
attached a dedicatory brass plaque
commemorating the names of 13 local
men who gave their lives in the service
of their country during the First and
Second World Wars.
Paid for by public subscription, the
memorial was officially dedicated in
September 1919 to the memory of ten
men who had died during the Great
War (1914-18) – their names originally
being cut directly into the stone.
Jeff Clements
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