Summary

First World War memorial in the style of the Blomfield Cross of Sacrifice.

Description

MATERIALS: limestone cross.

DESCRIPTION: West Meon War Memorial is located in St John the Evangelist’s Churchyard (Grade II), to the south of the church. A variant of the Blomfield Cross of Sacrifice, it consists of a square platform, two-stepped octagonal base and plinth with a Latin cross rising from it. The front face of the cross bears a reversed sword, carved in low relief.

The inscriptions are carved in relief on the plinth. The principal dedicatory inscription reads IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ "FOR US THE GLORIOUS/ DEAD HAVE STRIVEN/ THEY BATTLED THAT WE/ MIGHT BE FREE"/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE". The other faces of the plinth list the names of the fallen.

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, 6 December 2016.

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 West Meon 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 30 local servicemen who died during the First World War. In 2014 a project was undertaken to clean the memorial with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

West Meon War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St John the Evangelist, 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 First World War;
* Architectural interest: a sympathetic adaptation of Sir Reginald Blomfield’s Cross of Sacrifice;
* Group value: with the church of St John the Evangelist (Grade II) and the churchyard railings (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678090

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

• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)