History in Structure

The Lee War Memorial

A Grade II Listed Building in The Lee, Buckinghamshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.7298 / 51°43'47"N

Longitude: -0.6978 / 0°41'52"W

OS Eastings: 490030

OS Northings: 204260

OS Grid: SP900042

Mapcode National: GBR D41.JDQ

Mapcode Global: VHDVL.VSG8

Plus Code: 9C3XP8H2+WV

Entry Name: The Lee War Memorial

Listing Date: 1 March 2016

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1433152

ID on this website: 101433152

Location: The Lee, Buckinghamshire, HP16

County: Buckinghamshire

Civil Parish: The Lee

Traditional County: Buckinghamshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Buckinghamshire

Church of England Parish: The Lee

Church of England Diocese: Oxford

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Summary


First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions.

Description


DESCRIPTION: the memorial is situated at the north-eastern corner of the village green, facing Lee Clump Road. It is in the form of the Iona cross, with a slim granite tapering shaft, rectangular in section, surmounted by a wheel-head cross. A rope pattern adorns the arrises of every part of the shaft and cross head. The shaft rises from a shallow, tapering pedestal that stands on a single step of stone blocks, surrounded by a narrow pavement.

Carved interlace decoration adorns the face of the wheel-head cross. The principal dedicatory inscription begins immediately below the wheel-head on the front face, reading TO THE/ GLORY/ OF GOD/ AND IN/ MEMORY OF/ THESE MEN/ OF THE LEE/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING &/ COUNTRY/ HEARTH/ & HOME/ FREEDOM/ & HONOUR/ IN BRITAIN'S/ WAR AGAINST/ GERMAN/ CRUELTY &/ AGGRESSION/ (30 NAMES)/ 1914-1919.

The rear face of the shaft bears a sword carved in relief, below which is carved THANKS BE/ TO GOD/ WHICH/ GIVETH/ US THE/ VICTORY/ THROUGH/ OUR LORD/ JESUS/ CHRIST.

The Second World War dedication is carved in low relief on the front face of the pedestal, reading 1939 – 1945 (12 NAMES). A metal plaque on the front face of the step reads NINE MEN FROM THIS VILLAGE WERE SLAIN AT FROMELLES, NORTHERN/ FRANCE ON 19 JULY 1916. THEIR NAMES ARE RECORDED ON THIS WAR/ MEMORIAL AND SOIL FROM THEIR GRAVES IN FRANCE WAS BROUGHT BACK IN/ 2001 AND BURIED BENEATH THIS PLAQUE IN HONOUR AND REMEMBRANCE OF/ THEIR GALLANTRY AND SACRIFICE.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: a chain carried on low timber posts forms a boundary at the rear of the monument, with six short posts on the periphery of the green in front of the memorial.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 11 January 2017.

History


The memorial was dedicated and unveiled on 1 January 1921 by the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Robert Wynn-Carington, Marquis of Lincolnshire. The site had been presented by Lady Liberty and the memorial organised by a committee chaired by Captain Ivor Stewart-Liberty. The cross commemorates 30 local servicemen who died in the First World War, including six pairs of brothers.

Following the Second World War the names of 12 men who died during that conflict were added. A metal plaque was subsequently fixed to the memorial commemorating nine men, named on the cross, who died at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. Soil from their graves was brought back and is buried beneath the plaque.

Reasons for Listing


The Lee War Memorial, which stands on The Green, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an intricately carved wheel-head cross in the Celtic style;
* Group value: with a number of Grade II-listed buildings around The Green.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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