During 1921 many war memorials were unveiled including the one in Abingdon – unveiled by the Earl of Abingdon during a brief spell of bright weather in a stormy day – Sunday September 11th.

Abingdon Borough Council war memorial committee after much debate opted for a design by Mr West, which was considered to be dignified and showed some of the architectural features from the old town. It also had the merit that it was not a copy of types seen in many places. A bronze figure in relief was added to meet people’s wishes for a bronze soldier but meant the design needed to be made larger to allow the names of the men.

Today the war memorial became the focal point for Remembrance Sunday in Abingdon with the usual large crowds. It now stands with wreaths in front and crosses down the sides.

I was helping at Trinity and so part of one of the smaller remembrance ceremonies in town. There were over 100 people for the Trinity service. We heard during the two minutes silence the powered glider going to the main ceremony.

Children during the service learned something about men from Trinity and the Congregational church (now combined) who had not returned from the war, and saw pictures of the town’s war memorial.

Children also made wreaths with paper poppies.