Forncett St Mary War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Forncett St Mary War Memorial is located at the roadside adjacent to the entrance to St Mary’s Churchyard.

It comprises a cross bottonée on a tall, tapering octagonal shaft with moulded collar featuring foliate carvings and terminating in a square foot with inverted chamfered stops. The shaft rises from a hexagonal plinth with buttresses to the corner edges; it is surmounted by a crenellated cap above a moulded cornice and stands on a moulded foot. The plinth surmounts a two-stepped hexagonal base, atop a hexagonal platform with moulded cornice.

The inscriptions and names are carried on the west side of the plinth and base in incised lettering, painted black. The principal inscription is to an arched, fielded panel inset to the plinth and reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO COMMEMORATE/ THE VALOUR OF THE/ MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ AND OF ALL THOSE WHO/ FREELY OFFERED THEM/ IN DEFENCE OF RIGHT/ AND IN THE SERVICE OF/ THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The names of the eight casualties from the First World War are recorded directly below, to an inset panel on the upper-step of the base. Beneath the names is the inscription RIP/ “BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL/ GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE.”

The Second World War dedication is to a recessed panel on the lower-step of the base and reads 1939 – 1945/ (3 NAMES).