Smeekin Hill War Memorial 100 Year Commemoration Service
Wednesday, 6 September 2023
Wadsworth Parish Council is inviting local residents to the 100 year commemoration of Smeekin Hill War Memorial above Pecket Well
The commemoration will take place at 2.00 pm on Saturday 23 September 2023 at Smeekin Hill War Memorial.
There will be a short memorial service including a poem and then tea and biscuits will be provided at the Robin Hood Inn in Pecket Well.
Photo: HebWeb
The War Memorial at Smeekin Hill to the 33 men of Wadsworth who lost their lives in the war of 1914 – 1918 was unveiled on 23rd September 1923 by Major Robert H. Barker.
Roughly based on Stoodley Pike, it is an obelisk 41 feet high (Stoodley is 120 feet) it was designed by the Wadsworth Surveyor Mr Dent Parker and built by Oldfield Watson on land given by Mr Weir of Lower Crimsworth Farm. It has a natural rock foundation.
For the dedication ceremony, there was a procession from Old Town Green led by Hebden Bridge Band, and after a service of dedication the memorial was handed over to Mr C.M. Bricknell, Chairman of Wadsworth Parish Council by the Rev. Joseph Fielding, pastor of Wainsgate Baptist Church who had been Chairman of the Memorial Committee.
There were no names on the monument when it was unveiled, the 33 names were added later.
The names of the six residents that died in the war of 1939 – 45 were added in 1948 when the addition was unveiled on Armistice Sunday 7 November by Coun. R.P. Hope, Chairman of Wadsworth Parish Council.
* historical source Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
Wadsworth Parish Council Cllrs look forward to meeting local residents at the commemoration service.
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