Unlike many villages, Yoxford has no war memorial standing in the centre of the village or outside the church. However, inside ST PETER’S CHURCH there are several memorials. A brass plaque commemorates the dead of the First World War, a stone tablet those of the Second. The east window, over the altar, was installed in 1920 by Lavers & Westlake, and depicts Christ in Majesty flanked by St George of England and the dragon, and St Edmund of East Anglia. The names of the Parish fallen are in the lower part of the window, with their regimental badges at the top, above the symbolic figures. The Hymn Board commemorates the Bond Brothers, (Claud) Charles and Stanley. The organ was enlarged and dedicatedby the mothers, wives and sisters of the men who served and returned home safely. The font was moved from inside the door to its current position and placed on a double hexagonal stone plinth in 1921 as a memorial by ‘the children of Yoxford’. There is a brass plaque commemorating Samuel Lomax of Grove Park, who was the first Yoxford man to lose his life, on 10th April 1915. This was erected by his brothers and sisters. There is also a stone tablet in the Blois Chapel to Dudley Blois of Cockfield Hall, who died 14th July 1916 at the Battles of the Somme.
[In addition Lady Beatrice Lomax of Grove Park donated the altar and reredos in St Peter’s church in memory of her brother Captain Edward Granville Matthey, Lancashire Fusiliers, who died 1st July 1916 aged 23 and her brother Cyril’s son, Second Lieutenant Schomberg Edward Matthey, RAF, who died 3rd October 1918 aged 18].
THE VERDUN MEMORIAL TREE.
This was planted on Remembrance Day 1923 by the oldest and youngest scholars of Yoxford school, Ezra Cotton and George Davy. Mr Busby was Headmaster at the time. It was to commemorate the Battle of Verdun, fought from 21st February to 18th December 1916, which was the largest and longest battle of the War. The tree, a horse chestnut from the groves at Verdun, is situated on an island at the junction of the Old High Road and what is now the A12. It was presented by Mrs Lomax of Grove Park. A plaque lists all the WWI casualties. The island also accommodates the village sign.
YOXWOOD
In October 2014 a grove of three mature sycamore trees was planted to commemorate the Yoxford men who died in the First World War. The trees were donated by Barcham Trees of Ely and planted by volunteers. A memorial plaque was funded by businessman Jack Horner, the third generation to run the village shop. The Parish Council has since been able to purchase the Yoxwood for community use and more trees have been planted.