There are many different suggestions as to why and how the marble soldier on the top of the memorial came to fall off, the most popular belief is that it was due to a storm in 1959. Local villagers tell of many broken pieces of the white marble lying scattered on the ground around the memorial for a number of days, until a group of local men took the initiative and gathered up all of the broken pieces, transporting them to the piece of common ground behind Knightsbridge Garage where they were buried.
1959 Newspaper Article
A public meeting was held at the ‘Jacksdale Schools’ on 20th Feb 1959 to discuss this most unfortunate loss and to hopefully find a solution. A local newspaper reports ~
SELSTON PARISH COUNCIL TO CONSIDER JACKSDALE WAR MEMORIAL SUGGESTIONS.
Several recommendations were made at the public meeting in the Jacksdale Schools, Main Road, on Tuesday evening, concerning matters connected with the War Memorial at Main Rd, Jacksdale. Clerk to the Selston Parish Council, Mr G Wilde, said that these recommendations would be put forward at the Parish Council meeting next Tuesday and that advice would be sought from J. Berresford and Sons, of Belper, the monumental masons who erected the memorial.
Mr J. Cooke, secretary of the local British Legion branch, said at one of the councilor’s remarks - “The majority of the population of Jacksdale are not in favour of the memorial being renovated in its present position, even if the British Legion are” - was not a fair thing to say.
Mr Wilde answered that it was unfortunate that the person who made that statement was not present. “One Person’s Opinion” Councilors F. Barker, who presided in the absence of the Council Chairman, said - “That was only one person’s opinion, and you have to be careful of what you say when the press are there.”
Mr E. Purseglove , chairman of the British Legion, suggested that the memorial be renovated and cleaned to its previous condition. Mr Purseglove then asked Mr Wilde how much the Council were prepared to spend, and Mr Wilde answered that a one penny and a third rate would bring in approximately £360. A clock was suggested by one member. and Councilor J. Clarke suggested an ornamental flashing lamp. Another member agreed with Mr Clarke’s recommendation and bid that a lamp would safeguard against being hit by cars and lorries.
These and other suggestions will be brought before next Tuesday’s Parish Council meeting and another public meeting will be called.
Bill Baumer heads a remembrance day parade circa 1950s
A later newspaper article reports~
JACKSDALE MEMORIAL RECOMMENDATION TO SELSTON COUNCIL.
The dead of the two world wars are not remembered by Jacksdale people. This seemed to be the opinion of the few who attended the public meeting in the Jacksdale School, Main Road, on Monday to again discuss matters connected with the war memorial.
Councilor A.E. Kirk, chairman of the Parish Council, said that people who hadn’t come along to the meeting could not grumble about the decisions made. Mr Kirk’s comment which came towards the end of the meeting brought nods of agreement from the rest of the “few.”
Soldier Crumbled. Mr H.H. Nelson, manager of J. Beresford and Son, builders of the memorial was present and brought with him a stone cap, which was originally made for St. Peter’s Church, Belper.
Mr Nelson explained the difficulties of the various suggestions, pointing out that a clock might perish, as did the soldier, and that there was nowhere to run a cable for an electric lamp. The cap is made of entirely the same stone as the rest of the memorial, but it is of finer grain. Two more bases would be added under the cap.
Mr Nelson was asked if the stone would gradually perish, and it was explained that the marble soldier was not made with the best material, and that it must have been the sulphur from the iron foundry that had caused it to crumble.
Cost of erecting the cap, cleaning and various other improvements would be between £60 and £70. It was recommended that the Selston Parish Council accept the tender.