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Latitude: 51.1078 / 51°6'28"N
Longitude: -1.8766 / 1°52'35"W
OS Eastings: 408734
OS Northings: 134289
OS Grid: SU087342
Mapcode National: GBR 3ZF.DCG
Mapcode Global: VHB5P.FF82
Plus Code: 9C3W445F+49
Entry Name: South Newton War Memorial
Listing Date: 29 January 2018
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1451764
ID on this website: 101451764
Location: St Andrew's Church, South Newton, Wiltshire, SP2
County: Wiltshire
Civil Parish: South Newton
Built-Up Area: South Newton
Traditional County: Wiltshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Wiltshire
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: South Newton war memorial is located close to the western boundary of the churchyard of the Grade II listed Church of St Andrew.
It takes the form of a stone, wheel-head cross which surmounts a tapering, square column with moulded cap and foot. This rises from a four-sided plinth upon a two-stepped, square base. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering.
INSCRIPTION: the principal inscription is to the west face of the plinth and reads: IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (8 NAMES).
A further inscription on the west face of the top step of the base reads: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT HE/ LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
The Second World War dedication is to the south face of the plinth and reads, 1939 - 1945/ (4 NAMES).
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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at South Newton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the eight members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the First World War, and was in-situ by the Ordnance Survey County Series 25in map published in 1925.
The names of the four parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
South Newton war memorial, which is situated in St Andrew’s churchyard, 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:
* a well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II listed Church of St Andrew.
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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