Pensnett War Memorial

A First World War memorial, built around 1927; altered after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: limestone, bronze.

DESCRIPTION: Pensnett War Memorial stands at the east side of the junction of High Street and Elgar Crescent. It is located in close proximity to the Grade II-listed Church of St Mark.

It consists of an ashlar pillar, triangular on plan, on a two-stepped hexagonal base. At the top of each face of the pillar is a Latin cross, carved in relief.

The east face of the pillar has a nowy-headed bronze plaque with wreath and shield detail bearing an inscription which reads THIS PILLAR / OF SACRIFICE / WAS RAISED TO THE MEMORY / OF THE SEVENTY FIVE / MEN OF PENSNETT WHO / ARE NUMBERED AMONG / THE ONE MILLION DEAD / OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT / WAR 1914 – 1918. THEY / DIED IN EVERY QUARTER / OF THE EARTH AND THEIR / GRAVES ARE MADE SURE / TO THEM BY THEIR KIN / THE MAIN HOST LIE / BURIED IN THE LANDS OF / OUR ALLIES OF THE WAR, / WHO HAVE SET ASIDE / THEIR RESTING PLACES IN / HONOUR FOR EVER: SOME / LIE IN THE CHURCHYARD / YONDER / THEIR NAME LIVETH / FOR EVERMORE. Two identical plaques list the names of the 75 servicemen who fell in the First World War.

Above the First World War dedicatory plaque is a bronze shield-shaped plaque which reads IN / GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF THIS / PARISH WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES FOR / THEIR COUNTRY IN / THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 45. Two further shield-shaped plaques list the names of the fallen from the Second World War, the second with a further small rectangular bronze plaque beneath with an additional name inscribed.