Great Massingham War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Great Massingham war memorial is located to the west of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed), within the churchyard and adjacent to the main path leading to the church.

It is of Portland stone and takes the form of a cross bottonée; a Greek cross with each arm terminating in a trefoil. This surmounts an octagonal shaft with a molded collar in the shape of a crown with trefoil finials. The shaft has a square base and rises from a square plinth with a molded, tiered cap and chamfered foot, atop a three-stepped base. The whole stands on a tapering, stone block.

The faces of the plinth carry the inscription and names, which are in incised lettering, painted black. The principal inscription is to the west face and reads: THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918/ LET US REMEMBER IN LOVE AND/ GRATITUDE THESE OUR BROTHERS/ WHO DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE/ AND LET US SEEK TO WALK WORTHY/ OF THEIR SACRIFICE. The 21 names of those who died are listed on the north and south faces, with the east face carrying the inscription "IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS/ SAKE HAPPY ARE YE" 1 ST PETER III 14

To the south face of the base of the shaft are the dates of the Second World War 1939 – 1945 with the name of the single casualty inscribed above.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial is enclosed by eight decorative metal posts of barley twist design with finials, joined by chains. All are painted black.