Coddenham War Memorial

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

DESCRIPTION: Coddenham war memorial is located on a raised area at the entrance to the churchyard to the north of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed); it faces the main road through the village and is also in close proximity to several Grade II-listed buildings.

The memorial is of granite and takes the form of a wheel-head cross pattée, upon a small, square pedestal. This crowns a tall, rectangular two-stepped plinth surmounting a two-stepped base. The cross and pedestal are decorated with Celtic-influenced geometric designs in relief, while the plinth and base are roughly hewn.

The inscriptions and names are recorded on the southern face of the plinth within smooth inset panels. The main inscription is to the uppermost panel and reads, TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND SACRED FOR ALL TIME/ TO THE MEMORY OF THE/ CODDENHAM MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ FOR THE WORLD'S FREEDOM/ A.D. 1914 – 1919/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN/ HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. The 22 names of the fallen are recorded on a panel directly below the inscription.

The Second World War dedication is to the panel at the base of the plinth and reads, ALSO THOSE WHO FELL/ 1939–45/ (5 NAMES)/ MISSING/ (1 NAME).