The Great War Centenary ~ 1914 – 2014
Originally there were three local War Memorials, one in South Street, Lancing, another under the Lychgate of Sompting Church and a third on the site of the former Railway Carriage Works (now Lancing Industrial Estate). The latter was subsequently merged with the main Lancing memorial outside the Parish Hall.
Lancing
An early postcard of the Lancing monument
“Dedicated to the Glory of God and the memory of Lancing Men
who laid down their lives for their Country
in the Great War 1914-1918.”
These inscriptions identify many of those lost during the War.
Striking is the number of entries
recording local family names.
Far more detail of the Lancing fallen is given in Sue Lights’ amazing blog:
Sompting
The Lychgate Memorial at Sompting was funded by public subscription, circa 1920. George Weller of Sompting designed the gate and was responsible for all the woodwork. The flint-faced walls of the coffin-rest were built by Mr. Herbert of Broadwater and the stonework executed by Mr. Tate of Worthing. The names are inscribed on slate.
Further information concerning the Lychgate Memorial and all the men named on it, including a booklet,
‘Monument to the Glorious Dead’ can be obtained by using the contact email here on our Home Page.
The Railway Carriage Works
These pictures show the Railwaymen’s Memorial on it's original site at the Carriage Works and later as it is now in South Street.
This image courtesy of Philip Fry.
The above plaques are now at South Street, Lancing
As a small tribute to those individuals who lived and/or worked in the villages of Lancing & Sompting and who fell during WW1, Pastfinders have prepared an exhibition illustrating life in the Villages during 1914 and the effects of those hostilities on local homes and local families. The display will appear at the Cokeham Road Hub during August and Lancing Village Action later in the year.