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Scholes is fairly unusual in that there are three types of War Memorial in the village. There is the usual type which is a
listing of the names of the men who died during the course of the war which is located at the junction of Main Street, Station
Road, and Wood Lane.
Secondly, along the length of Station Road there is an avenue of Horse Chestnut and Lime trees, each of which was planted
to commemorate one of the fallen of Scholes. If one stands by the War Memorial facing towards the A64 York Road, the trees
on the left (school) side of the road were planted to honour the dead of the Great War, while those on the right (shops) side
were planted in memory of those who lost their lives in the Second World War.
Lastly there is a Roll of Honour which lists the names of all the men from Scholes who served during the Great War. This
last memorial is in the form of a plaque and is wall mounted in the Manor House on Belle Vue Road. The Manor House is the
community centre for the sheltered housing complex in the village.
Originally the plaque which forms the War Memorial and the plaque carrying the Roll of Honour where located at the former
Parish Council office building on Station Road. The War Memorial plaque was wall mounted underneath the clock, facing the
road and the Roll of Honour was housed inside the council chamber.
The following account was written by Mr Alan Senior and is taken from "The Barwicker", the journal of the Barwick
Historical Society, and I am grateful to the society and in particular the editor, Mr Arthur Bantoft, for permission to use
it here.
"In April 1919, it was reported that the Scholes War Memorial Committee was desirous of commemorating those who had
fallen in the War and also those who had served in HM Forces during the War, by placing a clock at the Council Offices.
The Parish Council agreed that the Committee be given permisson to erect a clock on the building at Scholes and that they
also be allowed to place a tablet, or tablets, in the Council Room with all the names of the men who had served in HM Forces
"fighting during the War", from the Parish of Barwick-in-Elmet. The tablet is now displayed in the Manor House in
Scholes.
In October 1920 it was reported that the Parish Council had received a letter from Miss Cox, Secretary of the Scholes
War Memorial Committee, stating that her Committee had unanimously resolved to hand over the clock, roll of honour and tablets
erected by public subscription of the inhabitants of Scholes to be held in perpetuity. This was agreed.
In August 1932 the Parish Council received a deputation from Mr Blackie and Mr Gosnay regarding the condition of the War
Memorial. It was agreed to provide posts and chains and renovation of the tablet.
It was noted that, under the War Memorials Act of 1923, the Council could "claim back" any cost of improvements
not exceeding £15.
In October 1932 the Parish Council approved the undermentioned expenditure:
1. New gate and fence.
2. Painting gate and fence.
3. Renovating tablet.
4. Adjacent tarmacadam paving and kerbing.
The total cost was £14. 2s. 0d"
In 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain, the Scholes Scout and Girl Guides groups laid out a festival garden at the
point where Main Street meets Station Road and the War Memorial plaque now forms the focal point of this garden. The new memorial
is mounted on an angled plinth which is surrounded by a raised flower bed, and thanks to the "Scholes in Bloom"
group the whole garden is very well kept and provides a pleasing sight all year round. The plaques detailing the fallen of
both wars are cast in bronze of differing alloys.
In recent years the Parish Council office building has been sold and is now a private dwelling. This move from public
to private ownership made it necessary to move the Roll of Honour to a new location and the Scholes Manor House was considered
to be the right location. It is now wall mounted in the main room of the Manor House in a prominent position. The plaque is
made in brass and the wording is engraved and inlaid with pigment to provide contrast.
The War Dead from the period of 1939 - 1945 are only commemorated on the main War Memorial, and one side of the avenue
of trees the remaining memorial, that at the Manor House, being dedicated to those men who saw service during the Great War.
The plaque commemorating the fallen from the Second World War was unvieled at a special ceremony on Sunday, 24 July 1949.
The Rector, Reverend Canon Gray MA conducted the service, and the plaque was unvieled by Mr W. Senior in his capacity as Chairman
of the Barwick in Elmet and Scholes British Legion.
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