South Benfleet War Memorial

1658/0/10028 ESSEX WAY 28-FEB-08 South Benfleet War Memorial

GV II War memorial, 1920, designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and carved by Percy Delf Smith.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

EXTERIOR: A moulded cross on a tapering square shaft set on a square plinth with cut-away corners and inscriptions on four sides. The plinth is set on a stepped square base.

INSCRIPTIONS: The memorial is inscribed on the west face: 'TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS IN/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1919'. The north and south faces are inscribed with the names of the fallen. The east face is inscribed: 'ALSO/ DEDICATED TO/ THE MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO MADE/ THE SUPREME/ SACRIFICE IN/ WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945'.

HISTORY: The memorial was erected by public subscription to commemorate the men of South Benfleet who were killed in the First World War. A dedication to the fallen of the Second World War was added later. The memorial was designed in 1919 by the architect Sir Charles Nicholson (1867-1949) whose works include several churches nationwide and the War Memorial Chapel at Rugby School, Warwickshire (1922, Grade II*). Nicholson also designed the painted reredos and chancel screen in the Church of St Mary, South Benfleet. The war memorial was carved by Percy Delf Smith (1882-1948), a typographical designer known for the fonts he developed for London Underground. He was Master of the Art Workers Guild and a Royal Designer for Industry. The memorial was unveiled on 30 May 1920 by Colonel C W Collingwood.

SOURCES: United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials, record no. 22173.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: South Benfleet War Memorial is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * It is a poignant reminder of the impact of the First and Second World Wars on the local community * The design by Sir Charles Nicholson and carving by Percy Delf Smith is simple yet elegant * It has Group Value with the adjacent Church of St Mary and churchyard monuments TQ7787886089

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 12 January 2017.