Little Thetford War Memorial

First World War memorial probably dedicated by 1925, with further names added after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: limestone.

PLAN: the memorial is situated in the cemetery at the northern end of Little Thetford village. It is positioned on the west side of the main pathway into the cemetery, surrounded by concrete paving slabs.

EXTERIOR: the memorial consists of a Celtic wheel cross on a low shaft of roughly dressed stone. It rests on a tapering rectangular section plinth, raised on one square stone step. The south face of the cross has a central boss and ring with a raised band which runs across each of the four arms. These have raised edges and each one features a carved triquetra. The sides and rear of the cross are roughly dressed like the shaft and plinth, and are without decoration.

The south side of the plinth has a smoothly dressed panel cut into the centre bearing the inscription in pinned lead letters in an angular, stylised script: ‘ERECTED / TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918’. Below this are 12 names followed by: ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS / THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS’. Below this on the front face of the step is inscribed: ‘1939 – 1945’ followed by two names.