Semer War Memorial

A First World War Memorial unveiled in 1920.

MATERIALS: the memorial is carved from Clipsham stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in the churchyard, approximately 15m east of the Church of All Saints (Grade II). It is approximately 2.5m high and is set within a small, rectangular enclosure defined by low stone edging. The memorial comprises an unadorned Celtic wheel cross set on a trapezoidal pedestal above a single-stepped square plinth. The Christogram, ‘IHS’, is incised at the centre of the east face of the cross.

The inscription engraved on the east face of the pedestal reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF SEMER/ WHO LOYALLY AND FAITHFULLY/ LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1918/ +/ GRANT UNTO THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST/ LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND/ WE FOR ENGLAND DIED. Below, the inscription on the east face of the plinth reads: BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH/ AND I WILL GIVE THEE THE CROWN OF LIFE.

The inscription on the west face reads: OH THE BEAUTY O THE GLADNESS/ OF THAT RESURRECTION DAY/ WHICH SHALL NOT THROUGH ENDLESS AGES/ PASS AWAY/ TO THAT BRIGHTEST OF ALL MEETINGS/ BRING US JESUS CHRIST AT LAST/ BY THE CROSS THROUGH DEATH AND JUDGEMENT/ HOLDING FAST.

The names and regiments of the five fallen are given on the north and south faces of the pedestal.