Gosberton War Memorial

The Gosberton War Memorial commemorates those lost in both World Wars. Constructed in 1920 to remember the casualties of the First World War, it was later extended to include the names of those who died in the Second World War. The memorial is situated on a traffic island at the junction of Mill Lane and High Street, Gosberton, South Holland, close to the Grade II-listed building at 10-14 Mill Lane.

The memorial is built of Clipsham stone and consists of a lantern cross atop an octagonal, tapering column. The faces of the lantern cross are intricately decorated with fleur de lis emblems, floral designs, and relief carvings depicting the crucifixion, St George, and St Louis of France. The column stands on an octagonal pedestal with a chamfered upper edge. This pedestal sits on a two-stepped, square base, also of Clipsham stone. A shield bearing the letters ‘ihs’ is carved in relief on the front face of the pedestal, below which is a metal plaque listing the names of those who fell in the Second World War, inscribed in white painted lettering.

A bronze plaque projects outwards from the bottom step of the memorial, sloping downwards to the ground. This plaque, with raised lettering, commemorates the First World War, bearing the inscription “TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF GOSBERTON WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918. THIS CROSS WAS RAISED BY THEIR FELLOW PARISHIONERS.” It lists the names of 38 servicemen arranged alphabetically in three columns, followed by the inscription: "REMEMBER THEM O GOD FOR GOOD AND BRING THEM UNTO GLORY THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS AND DEATH OF THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION." The plaque on the front of the pedestal honoring those lost in the Second World War repeats the introductory inscription and lists the names of 15 servicemen alphabetically in two columns, with the concluding inscription: "REMEMBER THEM O GOD FOR GOOD AND BRING THEM UNTO GLORY THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS AND DEATH OF THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION.”