Great Sutton War Memorial

The stone memorial cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist (Grade II) about 15m to the west of the lychgate (Grade II). It comprises a tall cross standing on a complex base designed for the placement of wreaths and floral tributes.

The elaborate cross head is in the form of a Maltese cross clasped by a plain equal-armed cross. Daisies are carved in the interstices of the cross arms, and the monogram IHS at the centre of the cross head on both front and rear faces. The tapering cross shaft rises from a pedestal with part-crenellated top. The pedestal stands on an octagonal plinth, that stands on a square base. Four corniced blocks are placed at the corners of the base, joined by a low step on each side.

The dates 1914/ 1918 are carved in low relief on the front face of the cross shaft. The principal dedicatory inscription, also carved in low relief, is recorded to the front face of the pedestal, reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ & IN MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR +/ + THE PATH OF DUTY/ WAS THE WAY TO GLORY.

A further dedication, inscribed around the front three faces of the octagonal plinth, reads SONS OF THIS PLACE, LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD/ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST ERE YOU FALL ASLEEP.

The commemorated First World War names are recorded to either side of the pedestal, with the Second World War inscription to its rear face reading 1939 – 1945/ (7 NAMES). The latest inscription recorded on one of the rear faces of the plinth reads FALKLANDS WAR/ 1982/ (1 NAME).

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, 27 February 2018.