Described at the time as being one of the most impressive village memorials in the county, it was unveiled by the Duke Devonshire on Sunday 8th October 1922 to commemorate the men of Dethick, Lea, and Holloway who had fallen in the First World War^[1]. Built of local stone and standing high on the hillside on a site given to the community by Mr G. S. Marple, this graceful obelisk formed a landmark visible for miles around, just like the one at Matlock. The chimney of the lead works at Lea can be seen in the valley below the memorial.

A dedication service was held in the parish church (Christ Church) by the Bishop of Southwell before the unveiling^[2]. The names of the fifteen casualties of war were inscribed on a plaque on the church wall together with a new east window, erected in memory of Second lieutenant George Futvoye Marsden-Smedley; both were dedicated during the service.

There was then a procession to the memorial site. The Duke of Devonshire spoke of the sacrifice of war and he expresses the hope that the war the country had just gone through would not be known as the Great War in the future but as the last war. It was not to be.

The photograph was taken not long after the memorial had been erected and shows a second plaque on the east face of the obelisk upon which a prayer is inscribed. Another plaque, with further names, was added to the south face following the Second World War.

Memorial, west face, with WW1 casualties

The inscription on the west face of the memorial reads: "Bear in mind the men from Dethick, Lea and Holloway who fought and died in the Great War 1914-1918.

Pte Arthur Brown aged 19
Pte Stanley Clarkstone aged 19
Pte Ernest Davis aged 28
Pte Frederick George Hawley aged 34
Pte Thomas Hodgkinson aged 30
Corporal William Hodgkinson M.M. aged 22
Pte Wm Andrew Hughes aged 26
Second lieut. George Futvoye Marsden-Smedley aged 19
Pte Harold Marsh aged 20^[3]
Lce-cpl. Norman Bywater Miers aged 44
Pte Harold Oakley aged 20
Pte Jack Peach aged 43
Pte Harry Alfred Thorpe aged 19
Gunner Arthur Walker aged 29
Second lieut. Geo Francis Walker aged 40^[1]".

Memorial, south face, with WW2 casualties

The inscription on the south face of the memorial reads:" Let us never forget the men of the parish of Dethick Lea & Holloway who died on active service for their country in the Second World War.
1939 - 1945

William Colin Eugene Broomhead aged 26
Arthur Bush aged 18
William Stanley Newton aged 32".

The Memorial today

References:

^[1] "Derby Daily Telegraph", Monday 9 October 1922. Report of the unveiling.

^[2] Whilst the newspaper report says the Bishop of Derby dedicated the church plaque and window, other sources say the ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Southwell.

^[3] Harold Marsh is included on Matlock's WW1 Casualties Not Listed on the Memorial.
This is because his Army records show him as being born and residing at Matlock, although he was born at Holloway.

Also see, elsewhere on this web site:
Kelly's Directory, 1891: Dethick, Lea and Holloway. There is more about the church
Derbyshire's Parishes, 1811, see Dethick (and Anthony Babington) | Lea
Wolley Manuscripts, Derbyshire for more about Derbyshire deeds, pedigrees, documents and wills, including both Dethick and Lea, and Wolley Manuscripts Matlock for more detailed information