Countesthorpe War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War addition

DESCRIPTION: Countesthorpe War Memorial is located in the churchyard, adjacent to the east end of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II-listed). It stands within a paved area that overlooks the main road.

The memorial is of rough-hewn Cornish granite and takes the form of a wheel-head cross with an inverted sword carved in relief to the east face; the sword has a trefoil to the pommel and at each end of the cross guard. The cross shaft rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth, which surmounts a single-step base. The whole stands on a narrow, square concrete foundation.

A bronze wreath with scroll is affixed to the bottom of the cross shaft on the east side; the scroll contains the words IN MEMORIAM in raised lettering. The wreath encircles a small bronze plaque, which carries the following dedication, also in raised lettering, ERECTED BY/ THE EX-SERVICE MEN/ OF COUNTESTHORPE/ UNVEILED BY/ H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK/ 24TH NOVEMBER 1921./ G. MAILE AND SON/ SCULPTORS AND CONTRACTORS/ 365-367 EUSTON ROAD/ LONDON. N. W. 1.

The principal dedication and names are carried on the plinth in leaded lettering and within smooth, inset panels. The dedication is to the east face of the plinth and reads, TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF COUNTESTHORPE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918./ "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” The names of the 48 men who died are recorded on the north and south faces.

To the top left corner of the north face of the base is another small inset panel bearing the maker’s name in leaded lettering, MAILE AND SON/ EUSTON RD LONDON.

A wedge-shaped, rough-hewn granite tablet was added to the east face of the base of the memorial carrying the Second World War dedication in leaded lettering, 1939 - 1945/ (17 NAMES).