Brandon War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1920, with additions for later conflicts.

DESCRIPTION: Brandon War Memorial is located at the centre of Brandon cemetery on a small mound at the junction of four paths to the east of the Church of St Peter (Grade I-listed).

The memorial is of a similar style to the Blomfield Cross of Sacrifice. Constructed of Portland stone, it comprises a tall Latin cross with tapering octagonal shaft, which terminates in a moulded foot; an inverted sword of sacrifice is carved in relief to the north face of the cross and shaft. The shaft rises from a three-tiered, square plinth, which is chamfered along the side edges. A wedge-shaped stone tablet has been placed against the lower tier of the plinth to the north and south faces. The whole surmounts a four-stepped octagonal base.

The inscriptions and names are to the plinth and wedge-shaped stone tablets in incised lettering, painted black. To the north face of the upper-tier of the plinth are the words THE WAR/ 1914–1918. The 65 names of the dead are recorded underneath and on the remaining three sides of the upper-tier of the plinth.

To the north face of the middle-tier of the plinth are the dates 1939–1945. The 23 names of the dead from the Second World War are recorded underneath and on the remaining three sides of the middle-tier of the plinth.

An inscription is incised on the wedge-shaped stone tablet placed against the north face of the lower-tier of the plinth, which reads SONS OF THIS PLACE LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD/ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST ERE YOU FALL ASLEEP.

A similar wedge-shaped stone tablet placed against the south face of the lower-tier of the plinth reads KOREAN WAR/ 1950–1953/ (NAME).