100 Years - A Service of Rededication of the Althorne War Memorial
The 100th anniversary centenary and rededication ceremony for the Althorne War Memorial took place on Saturday 11 July 2026 at 12:00 noon. The service marked 100 years since the distinct Lychgate-style public shelter was designed, funded, and built by local volunteers.
The names of the "Althorne 18" fallen soldiers were read aloud, followed by a formal wreath-laying ceremony and a traditional two-minute silence. Royal British Legion Standards and personnel were in attendance alongside visiting officials, members of the local community and relatives of some of the fallen soldiers.
Following the service, a community reception was held at the nearby Althorne Church Hall featuring delicious refreshments and a historical display charting the monument's 100-year story.
Recent Historic Protection
Adding to the centenary milestone, the Historic England Archive officially granted the monument Grade II listed status. The designation highlights its unique architecture as a public rest shelter and honors the local volunteers—predominantly the fathers and brothers of the fallen—who physically built it a century ago.
The History of the Althorne War Memorial The Althorne War Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the 18 local men who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. Built through community dedication, the monument at the top of Station Hill has a rich history of local volunteerism, resilience, and restoration.The journey to build the memorial began in December 1921 with the formation of a dedicated committee. The Great Eastern Railway Company generously donated the land at the peak of Station Hill, requesting only that the site always be well maintained.
Local volunteers provided all the physical labour required to build the monument. According to a contemporary report by the
Essex Chronicle, the entire project took
2 years and 9 months to complete, costing a total of
£252.
The original monument featured a beautiful bronze plaque listing 18 names, cast by the famous Crittall’s of Braintree. On Sunday 11 April 1926, the memorial was officially unveiled by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arnold Wilson and dedicated by the Bishop of Barking.
The monument faced a turbulent period during the mid-20th century. In the 1960s, vandals targeted the site, damaging the seating and stealing the surrounding chains. Disaster struck again in 1973 when the original bronze plaque was stolen. Refusing to let the memory of their fallen soldiers fade, the community arranged for a complete restoration. Booth and
Brooks of Burnham were commissioned to cast a new, durable iron plaque. In 1975, a special service was held to dedicate the new plaque, led by the
Bishop of Bradwell. Historical photographs from the day capture the ceremony, attended by
Rev. Vincent Castle (Vicar of Althorne) alongside the President and Padre of the Burnham Branch of the Legion.
Honoring the Fallen Two of the eighteen men honored on the Althorne memorial are also commemorated on the nearby Burnham War Memorial: Joseph R. Clarke: Born in Burnham, Clarke was an army veteran who served 12 years before moving to Althorne to work as a local postman. He re-enlisted in the Post Office Rifles in January 1916. Tragically, he died of his wounds in December 1917 after fighting in the Battle of Cambrai. Ernest Whiting: Born in Creeksea, Whiting worked as a horseman before the war. In November 1914, he married Lily Stacey at St Andrew's Church in Althorne. He enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regiment, was captured during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), and died as a prisoner of war in Germany in December 1917.
