Moor Row's Enduring Spirit: A Legacy of Sacrifice in Two World Wars

Nestled in the heart of West Cumbria, the seemingly quiet village of Moor Row holds a history far richer and more poignant than its present-day tranquility might suggest.

Like countless communities across the United Kingdom, Moor Row played its part in the monumental struggles of the two World Wars, contributing its sons and daughters to the fight for freedom and peace.

The echoes of their sacrifice still resonate today, etched into the very fabric of the village, most notably in the solemn presence of its War Memorial.

The Great War:
A Village Answers the Call When the call to arms came in 1914, Moor Row, then a bustling mining community, responded with unwavering resolve.

Young men, many working in the local pits or related industries, swapped their tools for rifles and their civilian clothes for military uniforms. 

Families bid tearful goodbyes, understanding the gravity of the situation but perhaps not fully comprehending the immense scale of the conflict that lay ahead.

The trenches of the Western Front, the unforgiving landscapes of Gallipoli, and the treacherous seas became the battlegrounds where Moor Row's men fought with courage and determination.

News travelled slowly in those days, often arriving in the form of dreaded telegrams that brought the crushing weight of loss to door after door.

The close-knit nature of the village meant that every casualty was felt deeply, a ripple effect of grief touching neighbours, friends, and the wider community.

Fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands from Moor Row made the ultimate sacrifice, their names forever inscribed in the annals of local history and, crucially, on the village's cherished War Memorial.

Imagine the quiet bravery of a young man, who perhaps worked down the local pit before enlisting, now facing the horrors of the Somme.

Or the unwavering spirit of families, who might have seen multiple sons depart for the front lines, living in constant anxiety for their safe return.

The impact on the women left behind was profound – running households, often taking on new roles, and holding the community together through immense hardship.

The Second World War:
Another Generation Steps Forward Just over two decades later, the world plunged into another devastating conflict, and once again, Moor Row answered the call.

Though the nature of the war had changed, with aerial bombings and a greater threat to the home front, the spirit of sacrifice remained.

A new generation of Moor Row's young men and women stepped forward. They served in all branches of the armed forces – in the Royal Navy protecting vital convoys, in the Royal Air Force defending the skies and striking at the enemy, and in the Army fighting across Europe and beyond.

On the home front, residents contributed to the war effort through rationing, air raid precautions, and working in essential industries.

The village would have experienced blackouts, the constant drone of aircraft overhead, and the ever-present fear of invasion. The loss of life, while perhaps not as numerically overwhelming as the First World War for a single village, was no less acutely felt.

Each name added to the memorial represented a unique life cut short, a family left to mourn, and a future unfulfilled. The sacrifices made during this period ensured that the freedoms we enjoy today were preserved.

The War Memorial
A Timeless Tribute Standing proudly, yet with a quiet dignity, in the heart of Moor Row, is the village's War Memorial. It is far more than just a stone monument; it is the physical embodiment of remembrance, a sacred place where the past meets the present.

Adorned with the names of those who never returned, it serves as a constant, poignant reminder of the price of peace. Each name engraved on the memorial tells a story – a story of courage, sacrifice, and ultimately, loss.

For families in Moor Row, it is a direct link to their ancestors, a place to reflect and honour the memory of loved ones. For the wider community, it is a focal point for remembrance, particularly on occasions like Armistice Day, when residents gather to pay their respects and ensure that the sacrifices of these brave individuals are never forgotten.

The Moor Row War Memorial stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of a small village that contributed so much to global conflicts.

It reminds us that even in the quietest corners of our land, heroes emerged, ordinary people who performed extraordinary acts in the face of immense adversity. Their legacy lives on, not just in stone, but in the collective memory and gratitude of a grateful nation.

The Moor Row and Scalegill War Memorial was made by Thomas Preston and located on land given by Mrs Thomas Postlethwaite of The Hollins.

It was unveiled on 23 October 1921 by Mr H A Bonney, BA, Headmaster of Moor Row Primary School. The memorial commemorates 42 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 12 men who fell in the Second World War. The Second World War names were unveiled and dedicated by Regimental QMS J K Thompson, RAMC, on 14 November 1948.

Details
First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: Aberdeen granite.

DESCRIPTION: Moor Row and Scalegill War Memorial is located at the junction of Scalegill Road and Church Street, Moor Row, Cumbria. It is prominently situated in the heart of the village. It comprises an elaborate Aberdeen granite Celtic cross with a wreath carved in relief to the front shaft, on an elaborate foot incorporating carved pediments and shields surmounting a square plinth with two-stepped base; the lower step incorporating relief-carved crossed rifles to the front face.

A Second World War inclined tablet is set at the left side foot. The plinth, base, and additional Second World War tablet bear the inscriptions in leaded lettering.

The inscription on the plinth is in leaded lettering and reads: MOOR ROW AND SCALEGILL MEMORIAL/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN EVER GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE/ MEN WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR/ TRUTH AND RIGHT IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD,/ AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD:/ AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM,/ NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN./ AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/ AND IN THE MORNING, WE WILL/ REMEMBER THEM. The names are carved on the sides of the plinth.

The upper step reads UNVEILED BY H. BONNEY B.A./ OCT. 23RD 1921.

The inclined tablet carries the inscription IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THOSE WHO MADE THE/ SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ THEY LIVE FOREVER/ UNVEILED BY/ R.Q.M.S J.K THOMPSON R.A.M.C/ NOV. 14TH 1948.

1914 - 1918 war:
  • H. Fisher 
  • P. Palmer 
  • S. Fulton 
  • H. Walker 
  • T. Bryan 
  • T. Glover 
  • A. Glover 
  • J.W. Wilkinson 
  • L. Chapple 
  • C. Nicholson 
  • E. Hold 
  • J. Errington 
  • H. Cranke 
  • J. Hadwin 
  • B. Eilbeck 
  • W.T.H. Phillips 
  • T.B. Jackson 
  • C. Ferguson 
  • H. Lancaster 
  • W. Faragher
  • T. Faragher
  • J. O'Neile
  • J. Steadman
  • B. Mitchell
  • T. Nanson
  • R. Robinson
  • W. Southward
  • W. Murray
  • A. Irving
  • J. Irving
  • W. Irving
  • R. Steele
  • F. Wright
  • C. Wright
  • J. Smith
  • R. Coad
  • J. Young
  • W. Cresswell
  • A. Hunter
  • J. Bowness
  • T. Young
  • Dr. J. James
1939 - 1945 war:
  • T.L. Williams
  • L. Thompson
  • E. Jeffery
  • J. Cox
  • K. Rae
  • H. Thompson
  • R.H. Moyle
  • J.B. Bewley
  • J. Smith
  • A. Higgin
  • K.V. Hornell
  • E. Bone
Moor Row War Memorial Illustration
Moor Row War Memorial Illustration
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

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