Summary
First World War memorial, circa 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Corton 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;
* Design: a well-executed stone cross.
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 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 in a prominent position within the burial ground at Corton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. After the Second World War, the names of the men of the parish who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.
Details
First World War memorial, circa 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Stone.
DESCRIPTION: A tall, tapering, stone Latin cross of octagonal section, with plain terminals to the arms, and a moulded collar at the base, which stands on an octagonal plinth above a three-stepped octagonal base, on a square platform.
One face of the plinth is inscribed IN/ HONOURED/ MEMORY.
Two faces to the left of this, the plinth is inscribed 1914-1918 followed by the names, ranks and regiments of the six men who died in that conflict, which run over the faces to either side, PASS FRIEND/ ALL'S WELL.
Two faces to the right, the plinth is inscribed 1939 - 1945 followed by the names, ranks and regiments of the five casualties of that war, which run over the faces to either side.
The riser of the top step of the base is inscribed HE ON A CROSS AND THEY IN CRUEL STRIFE / THEIR LIVES LAID DOWN THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE LIFE.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 25 July 2017.
