AHEAD of Remembrance Sunday, 26 war memorials in Devon have been listed at Grade II by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.

Built in the aftermath of the First World War (1914-1918), the newly-listed memorials in Devon were among tens of thousands that were erected across England in memory of the many people who lost their lives in the conflict, never to return home.

In place of graves, these memorials became focal points for local communities to mourn and honour their dead.

Newly listed are:

· Whitchurch War Memorial, Church of St Andrew, Church Hill, Whitchurch, Tavistock, West Devon

· Higher Tale War Memorial Payhembury, East Devon

· Princetown War Memorial, Junction of Tavistock Road and Station Cottages, Princetown, West Devon

· Sheepstor War Memorial, Church of St Leonard, Sheepstor, West Devon

· West Down War Memorial, St Calixtus Church, Church Pool, West Down, North Devon

· Salcombe Regis War Memorial Soldiers Hill, Salcombe Regis, Sidmouth,  East Devon

· Upton Pyne War Memorial Church of Our Lady, Upton Pyne Hill, Upton Pyne, East Devon

· Ugborough War Memorial Church of St Peter, The Square, Ugborough, South Hams

· South Pool War Memorial Churchyard of the Church of St Nicholas and St Cyriac, South Pool, Kingsbridge, South Hams

· Winkleigh War Memorial Churchyard of the Church of All Saints, Winkleigh, Torridge

· Topsham War Memorial Church of St Margaret, Fore Street, Topsham, Exeter

· Witheridge War Memorial St John the Baptist Church, Church Street, Witheridge, North Devon

· Sidbury War Memorial Greenhead, Junction of Chapel Street, Sidbury, East Devon

· Stokenham War Memorial Church of St Michael and All Angels, Stokenham, South Hams

· Whimple War Memorial Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, The Square, Whimple, Exeter

· Talaton War Memorial Church of St James, Church Road, Talaton, East Devon

· Spreyton War Memorial Church of St Michael, Spreyton, West Devon

· Swimbridge War Memorial Church of St James, Church Lane, Swimbridge, North Devon

· South Molton War Memorial South Molton Town Cemetery, Mill Street, South Molton, North Devon

· Thurlestone War Memorial Village Green, Eddystone Road, Thurlestone, South Hams

· Warkleigh War Memorial Cockrams Butt, Warkleigh, North Devon

· Silverton War Memorial Silverton, Mid Devon

· Huntsham War Memorial Brampton Down Road, Huntsham, Mid Devon

· Ivybridge War Memorial Junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, Ivybridge, South Hams

· Walkhampton War Memorial Walkhampton, West Devon

· Sutcombe War Memorial The Square, Sutcombe, Torridge.

Heritage Minister Helen Whately said: "War memorials have a special place in communities and remind us of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is right that these monuments to the brave people who sadly never returned from the First World War will now be preserved and protected."

Deborah Williams, Historic England’s Listing Team Leader in the West, said: “This Sunday (November 10) many of us will observe the two minutes’ silence, which shows just how important we still believe it is for us to commemorate those who have died in conflict. It’s this same respect for the fallen that has inspired us to list these memorials in Devon and help protect them for years to come.”

In 2014, Historic England committed to listing 2,500 war memorials by the end of 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. It achieved this target, listing 2,645, but decided to continue the work as many more cherished memorials worthy of listing status were identified.

The public is encouraged to share their stories and information on the Historic England Enrich the List website of war memorials at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/enrich-the-list/ .

The public is encouraged to share their knowledge and pictures of these newly listed memorials, so that Historic England can record important facts, and share what is known with others?

Historic England would be interested if people shared the stories of the people named on the war memorials.

It is also possible to upload information and pictures about other listed buildings and places local to people.

It is said that 99 per cent of people in England live within a mile of a place on the List which has more than 400,000 entries, from tower blocks and tombstones to barrows and bunkers, palaces and pigsties, cathedrals, windmills and rollercoasters.