Clent War Memorial

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: Clent War Memorial is located within the churchyard to the west of the tower of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Leonard.

It takes the form of a stone wheel-head cross, which has a shield carved in relief to its centre containing the monogram IHS. The cross crowns a tapering octagonal shaft with a decorative carved collar and inverse chamfered stops to the base. The shaft rises from a slender four-sided pedestal with splayed foot, which surmounts a square plinth with a narrow, square block foot. The top corners of the plinth are moulded chamfers. The whole stands on a three-stepped stone base.

The principal inscription is to the front (west) face of the plinth and reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL AND UNDYING MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ ALSO TO THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945. To the plinth foot below is a verse from “The Supreme Sacrifice,” a poem by John Stanhope Arkwright, which reads THESE WERE HIS SERVANTS IN HIS STEPS THEY TROD/ FOLLOWING THROUGH DEATH THE MARTYRED SON OF GOD/ VICTOR HE ROSE VICTORIOUS TOO SHALL RISE/ THEY WHO HAVE DRUNK HIS CUP OF SACRIFICE.

The names of the 29 men who died in the First World War are listed on the remaining sides of the plinth. The eight dead from the Second World War are listed on the north and south faces of the plinth foot.

All lettering is incised.