Malpas War Memorial Upgrade Project

Photograph of the original unveiling ceremony 3rd March 1920.

Project Background:

In recent years, two major village events have been organised by the Malpas Community Links group.

These were:

Malpas “100 Years on” Commemoration event in November 2018 and Malpas VE80 The Homecoming Celebration event in May 2025.

Each event required historical research, with some of the information gathered being displayed in Wartime Roadshows at the time.

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This extensive research has identified that there are nine WW1 men, one WW2 man, and one man from the Bosnia conflict with strong Malpas connections missing from the War Memorial and the Role of Honour book in St Oswald’s Church. These men are also not commemorated on any other UK Civic War Memorial.

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Project Objectives:

To add the names of the 11 missing service men to the Malpas War Memorial.

To update the Roll of Honour book which is kept in St Oswald’s Church.

To rededicate the War Memorial.

To construct an accurate as possible record of each of the individual's lives and their connections to Malpas.

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How can you help?:

Check if you are related either directly by name or through grand parents to any of the men on the War Memorial by using the links at the bottom of the page.

Contact us at editor@malpascheshire.org with any information you are able to add to their story.

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Malpas War Memorial History

A meeting on 5 May 1919, led by the local Rector, Reverend L. Armitstead, who at that time was also the chairman of Malpas Parish Council, was held to decide what type of memorial to erect to those of the parish who had lost their lives during WWI.

It was agreed that the memorial should be erected in St Oswald's churchyard and funding was to be raised by public subscription.

The original structure was unveiled in a ceremony led by the Bishop of Chester, Henry Luke Page, on 3rd March 1920.

The front face of the Octagon base bore the inscription:

“To the honoured memory of the men who died for their country in the Great War of 1914-1919. Their name liveth for ever”

The other seven faces were inscribed with the names of the fifty-six men from the parish who that time were known to have made the supreme sacrifice.

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July 2026.

The current structure supports eight Bronze plaques which are fixed to the sides of the octagon base.

Plaque to front of reads:

“To the honoured memory of the men who died for their country in the Great Wars 1914-18 1939-1945. Their name liveth for evermore  Ecclus.XLIV.14”

Five plaques commemorate those who died during WWI (58 names), inscription to top of plaques reads '1914 – 18’.

Two plaques commemorate those who died during WWII (19 names), inscription to top of plaques reads '1939 – 45'.

A service to rededicate the memorial led by the venerable F.J. O’Kell archdeacon of Macclesfield and former rector of Malpas took place on Sunday 27th February 1949.

(When the memorial was updated in 1949, two WW1 names were added, because the individuals had passed away from illness related to their war time activities, after the original structure was unveiled in 1920.)

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Historic England official entry listing.

WWI men listed on our War Memorial

WW2 men listed on our War Memorial