Skip to main content

    War MemorialsRegister

    • Home
    • Search Memorials
    • Search Names
    • Help
    Imperial War Museums LogoImperial War Museums home
    • About
      • About us
      • Submit a photograph
      • Volunteering
    • Legal
      • Accessibility Statement
      • Cookies
      • Copyright
      • Privacy
      • Terms of use

    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Reach

    Reach Obelisk

    Source: Copyright Susan Bailey

    1/4

    Current Location

    Near junction Fair Green / Swaffham Road and Clunch Pit Lane, Fair Green, Reach, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, CB25 0JD, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TL 56687 66184

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

    Contribute to the War Memorials Register

    Send us details and photographs of your local war memorials, to help enhance the information about the people, places and events they commemorate.

    Contribute now

    This record shows everything IWM currently knows about this memorial. We are continually updating our records.

    © WMR-8399

    To share information or photographs, contact us.

    Type of Memorial
    Obelisk
    WMR Reference Number
    8399
    Description
    Squat red stone obelisk with a shallow pyramidal top, and a double plinth. It stands on a two-stepped base, within a square gravelled area surrounded by a low post and chain fence.
    Inscription
    ERECTED / TO THE MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF REACH / WHO DIED IN THE / GREAT WAR 1914-1919 / (Names) / RIP / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    8
    Died
    8
    Information shown
    Rank, initials, surname, regiment, manner and date of death
    Order of names
    Listed in order of date of death
    Maker(s)
    • Messrs. Linzell and Edmondson, of Newmarket, Makers

    Costs
    £114 13s
    Maintenance History
    September 2002: War Memorials Trust gave £250 towards work to clean the memorial, rake out decayed concrete on the top of the base and refill with new concrete, replace edging where necessary, repaint the chains and fix the corner posts and re-cut all the letters and paint them black. The grant also covered the cost of two new metal flower containers. (After the work was completed the memorial was re-dedicated at a service on 10th November 2002). // 2/7/2002: Memorial was Grade II listed (List Entry Number 1360819).// 13/6/1920: Unveiled and dedicated.

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    13th June 1920

    Mr C. P. Allix, J.P., D.L.

    Dedicated

    13th June 1920

    Rev. Lawrence Fisher (Vicar of Swaffham Prior) and Rev. L. Fisher, Rev, J. W. Upton

    Rededicated

    10 November 2002.

    Components

    Obelisk

    Made from: Granite - Red


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1360819

    Base

    Made from: Stone - York


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1360819

    • Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 18 June 1920 (page 12) reported: 'REACH WAR MEMORIAL. The Unveiling Ceremony. On Sunday evening amid many manifestations of esteem for the eight men of Reach who had fallen in the Great War, a large assembly, composed of residents from Swaffham Prior, Burwell, and the Fen, gathered on the village green, on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument which the inhabitants had generously raised to their memory. The memorial consists of a monolith of red stone on a York stone landing, and stands in a very prominent position on the Green, and has been beautifully executed by Messrs. Linell [sic] and Edmondson, of Newmarket. It is suitably inscribed as follows: “Erected to the memory of the men of Reach who died in the Great War, 1914-1919.” Lance-Cpl J Miller, 2nd West Yorks, killed in action March 10th, 1915; Pte I. Cook, 11th Suffolks, killed in action July 1st, 1916; Pte. A Whitmore, 11th Suffolks, killed in action July Ist, 1916; Pte. P. Millard, 11th Suffolks, died of wounds, July 11th, 1916; Pte F. J. Hatley, M.G.C., killed in action, October 17th 1916; Pte. C. Camps, 6th Yorks, killed in action, January 17th, 1917 Corpl. C. R Creek 1/4th Lincs., killed in action, May 2nd, 1917 Pte. F. Long, East Surrey, killed in ac tion, August 7th, 1918. R.I.P. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” An impressive service was conducted by the Rev. J. W. Upton (Minister of the Congregational Church), recited the words “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The hymn, “O, God, our help in ages past,” was sung, and prayer offered. The Rev. Lawrence Fisher (vicar of Swaffham Prior) read Psalm 46. In unveiling the: monument, Mr. C. P Allix, J.P., D.L. delivered a much appreciated address. Major E. E. Pearson, commanding officer of the Depot, Bury St. Edmund’s, followed with some appropriate remarks. Two verses of the hymn, “Through the night of doubt and sorrow’ were sung. Rev. L. Fisher led the devotions, and a suitable address was given by Mr. G. Woolgar (lay reader) in which reference was made to the cost of the memorial, and the generosity of the subscribers. Two verses of the hymn, “Ten thousand times ten thousand" were sung, and the Rev. J. W. Upton added a touching tribute to the memory of the fallen. The hymn, “God bless our native land,’ was sung, and the Benediction pronounced. Mrs. Woolgar ably accompanied the hymns on the harmonium, and Corpl. Bye sounded the “Last Post.” The total expenditure of the memorial amounted to £114 13s., and the subscriptions, including the offerings received at the unveiling of the memorial, £8 8s. 3½d., amounted to £118 4s 1½d., leaving the balance in hand of £3 11s.1½d. Quite a number of tributes} were placed on the monument'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000418/19200618/089/0012
    • War Memorials Trust: Small Grants (WM963); 'In September 2002 War Memorials Trust gave £250 towards work to clean the memorial, rake out decayed concrete on the top of the base and refill with new concrete, replace edging where necessary, repaint the chains and fix the corner posts and re-cut all the letters and paint them black. The grant also covered the cost of two new metal flower containers'. http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=249
    • Historic England, List Entry Number 1360819; Grade II Listing 2/7/2002; 'War memorial. c.1920. Inscribed Linzell and Edmondson: Newmarket. Sandstone ashlar. A short pylon on stepped base has cornice and low pyramidal top. The memorial is inscribed with the names of the Fallen in the 1st World War and includes the regiment, date and cause of death. A low kerb of small bollards and chains surrounds the memorial. This memorial, which forms part of a group of historic buildings surrounding Fair Green, is unusual in giving greater details of the Fallen'. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1360819?section=official-list-entry