Sandown War Memorial

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, to the design of Percy Stone with later additions for the Second World War. The memorial stands on a purpose-built semi-circular bastion with iron railings projecting seaward from the esplanade.

MATERIALS: Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial faces north-westwards towards the Esplanade. The tall cross stands on a curved plinth, which in turn stands on a two-stepped base. The cross is decorated with knot carving. On the wheel of the cross is carved the quotation from the book of Ecclesiasticus, ‘THEIR / NAME / LIVETH FOR EVERMORE'. Panels on the face of the shaft are inscribed, ‘EACH / GAVE / A / LIFE FOR YOU AND ME’ (a quotation from one of the ‘Ballads of Battle’ by Lance Corporal Joseph Lee) and ‘A MEMORIAL / TO THE / SANDOWN/ MEN / WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES / IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914-1920’. On the front of the plinth is a recessed panel bearing metal lettering, with the words, ‘REMEMBER THE LOVE OF THEM/ WHO CAME NOT HOME/ FROM THE WARS’. On the border beneath the panel have been inserted the dates: ‘1914-18 – 1939-45’. The names of those lost in the First World War are inscribed on the other sides of the plinth and a granite plaque with those of the Second World War dead has been added to the face of the top step.