Herts and Essex Observer Saturday 1/10/1921 printed a lengthy report of the unveiling and dedication of the memorial. The report opened:
'Unveiling of the War Memorial at Manuden. Simple but impressive solemnity characterised the dedication and unveiling on Sunday by Col. C. Healey, C.M.G., late South Wales Borderers, of the memorial which has been erected to the honour of the men from the village of Manuden who gave up their lives in the Great War. The memorial, which is situated in the corner of the churchyard facing the road, consists of a massive rough monolith of granite standing on a granite base and having a polished inlaid granite panel bearing the inscription and list of names as follows: 1914-1918. To the glory of God. In proud and grateful memory of the gallant men of Manuden who fought and died for their country during the Great War. SIDNEY HELI BAKER WALTER FREDERICK BIRD. JOSEPH BAYFORD JOHN BYE. LEONARD TRIGG, ALBERT EDWARD TAYLOR, GEORGE WILLIAM START, SIDNEY KING, JAMES PETCHEY, EDWIN CHARLES PERRY, STANLEY ARTHUR WARREN, HARRY TRIGG, ALFRED WARD, ROBERT ERNEST ROLAND ABSALOM, FRANK JOHN WIFFEN, WILLIAM STEPHEN CHAPPELL, REGINALD FRANK WHEELER, WILLIAM RUPERT WHEELER. A large congregation from the village and neighbourhood assembled to witness the ceremony and even when the church was filled to its utmost capacity many were unable to gain admittance to the first portion of the service. Thirty-one ex-Service men, under the command of Lieut. S. F. Cowell, late R.G.A., together with a detachment of the 1st Saffron Walden Boy Scouts, in charge of Scoutmaster H. W. Fells, M.C., and Assistant Scoutmaster F. W. Swanton, the party including seven buglers under Bandmaster E. King, paraded outside the Vicarage, where they marched to the church. The officiating clergy and minister were the Revs. H.B. Grindle (vicar), C.D. Williams (rector of Little Hadham) and A.Cook (former Congregational Minister of Stansted) and among the congregation was the Rev. J.G. Geare (rector of Farnham). The service opened with the hymn "O God, our help in ages past," and took the form of ordinary evensong, including lessons taken from Isaiah 35 and Revelation 21, the 23rd Psalm, and the hymn "Soldiers, who are Christ's below".
After then describing the service within the church, the report continued:
'During the singing of the hymn 'Through the night of doubt and sorrow " a procession was formed and walked to the site of the memorial in the following order: Clergy, members of the Widdington Band playing the tune, Col. Healey, the Choir, ex-Service men, Scouts, relatives and the remainder of the congregation. When all had gathered around the memorial the Rev. A. Cook read the lesson (Wisdom 3, 1-5), following which Col Healey, who was in full uniform, drew aside the Union Jack which draped the face of the stone. Amid an impressive silence the Last Post was sounded by buglers. Addressing the assembled congregation, Col. HEALEY then said that he highly valued the privilege of having unveiled that memorial as a token of gratitude to the men of Manuden for what they had done. No men ever went forth to war with a better cause or with higher ideals, These men, together with some 670,000 other gallant British soldiers, gave up their lives that we might be saved and retain our liberty and the freedom of our Empire. While offering sympathy to those who were mourning the loss of their dear ones, he felt sure their sorrow must be mingled with great pride. If they were true to their faith they would not lose hope but would believe that these men had passed into a far better world. He hoped that these names would be an incentive to those who came after, so that should they receive the call they would willingly follow the splendid example set them. He concluded with the words "May God keep their souls in that perfect peace which passeth all human understanding." Among the many beautiful floral tributes which were then placed at the foot of the memorial was one from the parish, laid in position by Mr J. F. Cowell, one placed on behalf of the ex-Service men by Pte. J. Hayford, and another from the Primrose League by Mr F. Groom. The VICAR then read out the list of names and dedicated the memorial, and the service concluded with the hymn "For all the Saints," the Blessing, Reveille and the National Anthem. Prior to the service the knell was tolled and afterwards a hail-muffled peal was rung on the church bells'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003122/19211001/109/0007