Thornley War Memorial

The memorial stands at the centre of a grassy triangle in the road junction opposite the former Schoolhouse (not listed). It is an adaptation of Sir Reginald Blomfield’s Cross of Sacrifice designed for the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, c5m tall, and built in Heworth stone.

The front face of the tall cross is ornamented with a reversed sword in bronze. The cross shaft rises from an octagonal pedestal, which stands on a broader octagonal base that has an overhang for the placement of wreaths. The whole stands on a broad base of three shallow steps, enclosed by railings.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads IN/ THANKSGIVING/ TO GOD/ FOR VICTORY/ AND/ TO THE/ MEMORY OF/ OUR VALIANT/ DEAD/ 1914-1918. The commemorated names are listed on the adjacent faces, whilst the two commemorated Second World War names are recorded to the rear.

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, 24 February 2017.