War Memorial

The War Memorial is a Grade II listed structure made of Portland stone, standing on a concrete base and surrounded by a low metal railing. It features a tapering stone column approximately 10 meters high, which rests on a double stone plinth. At the top of the column is a stone urn adorned with swags, set on a pedestal that has a plain die and a moulded torus and plinth.

At the base of the column, there are copper plaques on each side. The plaques on the east and west sides list the names of the deceased. The plaque on the south side includes the inscription:

‘THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED IN THE / YEAR 1920 BY THE GRATEFUL INHABITANTS / OF GRAYS TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY / OF THEIR BRAVE FELLOW-TOWNSMEN WHO / ANSWERING THE CALL OF DUTY LEFT HOME / AND KINDRED IN ORDER TO DEFEND THE / EMPIRE AND THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND / ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE / INSCRIBED ON THESE TABLETS, WHO LOST / THEIR LIVES WHILST SERVING IN THE / ARMED FORCES OF THE CROWN OR IN / THE MERCANTILE MARINE DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918.

Beneath this inscription, in italics, are the words: "ON FAME'S ETERNAL CAMPING GROUND/ THEIR SILENT TENTS ARE SPREAD/ AND GLORY GUARDS WITH SOLEMN ROUND/ THIS BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD."

Above the south plaque, the date 1939-45 is carved into the column, accompanied by a copper wreath in relief. Additional plaques have been added beneath the main plaque on the west side to commemorate those who died in the Second World War and the Korean War.

The west side of the column is carved with the names of battles: MONS, YPRES, SOMME, AISNE, ITALY, GALLIPOLI, and MESOPOTAMIA. The east side features the names KUT, GAZA, SALONIKA, JERUSALEM, JUTLAND, ZEEBRUGGE, and FALKLAND ISLANDS.