War Memorial

STRENSALL

1472/0/10013 MAIN STREET 24-JUL-07 War Memorial

II War memorial, 1922 with later addition. A stone Celtic cross on a rectangular shaft mounted on a tall plinth resting on a 4 step base.

The inscription on the front of the plinth reads: TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY/OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/WERE KILLED, DIED FROM/WOUNDS OR SICKNESS CONTRACTED/IN THE GREAT WAR/1914-1919, followed by 17 names with regiments, and below: ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ORGANISED BY THE STRENSALL BRANCH/OF THE BRITISH LEGION.

On the left return on the plinth is inscribed WORLD WAR/1939-1945/REMEMBER, followed by 6 names.

The cross bears a further inscription half way up the shaft reading THEY GAVE/THEIR LIVES/THAT WE/MIGHT LIVE. Above this is deeply incised floral decoration covering the shaft and the head of the cross, with a central rose. Below the inscription is a relief carving of a soldier facing left and looking downwards, with his hands resting on his gun before him. Near his feet are representations of a field gun and part of a tank. A laurel wreath surrounds his head.

Summary of Importance War memorials have a very strong historical and cultural significance on both a local and national scale. The memorial cross at Strensall is a fine example with a high standard of craftsmanship in the carving of its decoration and relief figure of a First World War soldier. As a record of the fallen of both World Wars it is clearly of national significance.

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, 1 February 2017.