Summary
A First World War memorial, built before 1924; altered after the Second World War and Korean War.
Description
A First World War memorial, built before 1924; altered after the Second World War and Korean War.
MATERIALS
Granite.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St George (Grade II-listed). It is a simple Celtic cross with incised Celtic knotwork on the principal (east) face, on a three-step base. The top step of the east side is inscribed 1914-1918 and THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE is inscribed on the bottom step. The names of those lost in the First World War are inscribed on the middle step. The south side of the steps are inscribed 1939-1945 on the top step, with the names of those lost in that conflict on the north and south sides of the middle step. The west side is inscribed KOREA – 1951 on the top step and the name of the one man lost inscribed below.
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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of 750,000 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 Semington, 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.
The date that the memorial was unveiled is unknown, although it was in place by 1924. Following the Second World War and Korean War, dedications were added to commemorate the men who fell in those conflicts. The memorial was cleaned, the lettering restored and two names added to the First World War inscriptions in around 2014, and it was rededicated on August 3 2014.
Reasons for Listing
Semington War Memorial 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:
* for its design, a well-executed Celtic cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Church of St George and the Grade II-listed monuments within its churchyard.
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.
Recommended Books
Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
England's Post-War Listed Buildings
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)