Bennetthorpe War Memorial

War Memorial commemorating the First World War and Second World War. 1923 by Ernest Prestwich of Leigh. Stancliffe sandstone from Derbyshire.

PLAN: obelisk topped by a grieving figure standing on square pedestal with a stepped plinth.

DESCRIPTION: the 10.6m (35ft) war memorial faces onto Bennetthorpe to its north and is in line with the main entrance gateway into Elmfield Park on its south side. The tall, tapering obelisk is formed of large, ashlar blocks with a relief-carved laurel wreath towards the apex of each face beneath a fluted entablature and stepped plinth on which a figure stands. The stone statue is of an allegorical standing woman possibly representing Sacrifice or Grief. She wears robes of a religious character with a headdress and stands with head bowed and hands in front holding out a laurel wreath. Towards the base of the obelisk is a slightly projecting band with a relief-carved geometric pattern and on the north and south faces a relief carving of the Borough of Doncaster coat of arms within a garter with relief lettering of the old Borough motto CONFORT ET LIESSE (Comfort and Joy). Attached above the coat of arms is a bronze broadsword, blade down, similar to those which form an integral component of the Cross of Sacrifice designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission. The east and west faces of the obelisk each have a brass flag boss. The north face of the square pedestal has a rectangular, relief plaque inscribed OUR / GLORIOUS / DEAD /1914 – 1918 with a relief frame of stylised acanthus on three sides. Beneath the plaque 1939 – 1945 is inscribed into the pedestal. The other three faces of the pedestal have slightly sunken, rectangular panels with relief carvings depicting the three branches of the armed forces as well as civilians. The panel on the east face depicts the Royal Air Force eagle badge with a tableau beneath of a child holding a model plane, a blacksmith, an allegorical figure, possibly Victory, holding a palm, and a pilot. The panel on the west face depicts Britannia and various ships, said to be Drake's ship, the Golden Hind, Nelson's Victory, a contemporary battle cruiser and a merchant ship. The panel on the south face depicts St George in the centre flanked by a solder and a Red Cross nurse. The pedestal stands on an irregularly stepped plinth.

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, 31 January 2017.