Summary
First World War memorial, inscriptions and names were added from the Second World War and the Malaysian Emergency.
Description
First World War memorial, inscriptions and names were added from the Second World War and the Malaysian Emergency.
MATERIAL: limestone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a wheel cross with floriated terminals on a sharply tapered plinth and square base on a rubble mound. Inscribed on the arms of the cross is LEST WE FORGET and at the base of the shaft IN/ HONOURED/ MEMORY/ OF. The front face of the plinth reads (NAMES)/ WHO WENT FROM THE UNDERCLIFF AND/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED BY THE RESIDENTS OF/ ST LAWRENCE IN DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE BRAVE/ MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN AND WITH SINCERE SYMPATHY/ WITH THOSE WHO ARE LEFT TO MOURN THEIR LOSS. The front face of the base of the cross bears the inscription THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. The side of the plinth reads ALSO IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE MEN OF/ ST LAWRENCE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ AND IN/ MALAYA 1948/ (NAME).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. One such memorial was raised at St Lawrence as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates the twelve local men who died during the First World War, seven in the Second World War and one in the Malaysian Emergency.
Reasons for Listing
The War Memorial within the churchyard of Parish Church of St Lawrence, Ventnor, Isle of Wight is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* it incorporates a well-carved cross.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Lawrence (Grade II*).
External Links
- Historic England Listing
- Wikidata IDs Q93469638 Q97457352
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.
Recommended Books
Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)