Summary
First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Hartley Wintney War Memorial, which stands to the north of St John’s Church, 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 conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* A well-proportioned memorial incorporating symbols of sacrifice and commemoration, with carefully designed space to record commemorated names and for the performance of acts of remembrance.
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 at Hartley Wintney as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 83 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The masons were S Mardles and Son of Fleet: the firm was responsible for a number of war memorials including those at Elvetham, Church Crookham (both Grade II-listed), Newnham and Nateley Scures, and Crondall. This memorial was re-dedicated on 9 November 1947 following the addition of the names of 20 service personnel who had died in the Second World War. Originally located near the Victoria Hall (Grade II) at the junction of the A30 and West Green Road, in 1964 it was moved c375m to the east, to its present site adjacent to St John’s Church (not listed).
Details
The c3.2m tall limestone memorial is situated at the north boundary beside St John the Evangelist Church, facing north overlooking part of The Common. It comprises a Latin cross with a tapering shaft set on a plinth. Curved flanking walls to either side, ending in stone piers, bear the inscriptions.
At the centre of the cross head a crown of thorns carved in relief encircles the Chrismon of St Ambrose. A reversed sword is carved in relief to the cross shaft. At the top of the plinth is the date 1914-1919 in raised lettering, with below a decorative wreath carved in relief and, at the foot of the plinth, a later addition of the dates 1939-1945, also in relief.
The eastern flanking wall is inscribed BEING DEAD THEY LIVE. Underneath the inscription are the names of 42 servicemen who died in the First World War, recorded alphabetically with rank and regiment. The western wall is inscribed BEING SILENT THEY SPEAK with below a further 41 names. The later Second World War names are recorded below the older names. The piers at either end of the flanking wall record the places where servicemen lost their lives: on the front face of the eastern pier, FRANCE/ BELGIUM/ ITALY/ EUROPE/ MIDDLE EAST, with to one side, THE SEVEN SEAS; and on the western pier, GALLIPOLI/ SALONIKA/ PALESTINE/ AFRICA/ FAR EAST, with EGYPT/ MESOPOTAMIA/ AFRICA to one side. All the lettering is incised and painted black.
The memorial stands on a base of three semi-circular steps.
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, 20 July 2017.
