Rowlands Castle War Memorial

The Rowlands Castle War Memorial is a granite obelisk erected in the 1920s as a tribute to those from the district who died in the First World War (1914-1919). It is situated within a small garden at the southern end of the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, positioned at the crossroads of the B2148 and B2149 roads. The memorial comprises a tall stone obelisk set upon a tapering plinth. Inscribed marble plaques with black lettering are present on all four sides of the plinth. The plinth rests on a two-stage square base, itself set upon a square stone platform.

The south-facing side bears a principal inscription reading: "ERECTED / IN / GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF THIS DISTRICT / WHOSE NAMES / ARE INSCRIBED HEREON / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919". A plaque was added after the Second World War to this upper stage of the base, and it is inscribed: "IN GRATEFUL MEMORY / THE NAMES ARE ADDED OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / 1939 – 1945". The west and east-facing sides of the plinth list the names, rank, and regiment of 30 men who died in the First World War. Below these, on the upper stage of the base, are plaques listing the names of 18 men who died in the Second World War. The north-facing plaque features the inscription: "GREATER / LOVE / HATH NO MAN / THAN THIS / THAT HE LAY / DOWN / HIS LIFE / FOR HIS FRIENDS".

The memorial garden is enclosed to the rear by tall hedges and to the front by a low dwarf wall. The memorial is accessible via both the main road and a footpath through the churchyard, through a small gate. It stands on a low mound, central to the garden, with two benches situated to either side, commemorating those who maintained the garden. The low dwarf wall, constructed of flint with brick piers and brick coping, includes stones set into either side of the path, recording the memorial’s dedication: "THIS MONUMENT IS A SACRED TRUST TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, / TO BE CARED FOR AND CHERISHED FOR ALL TIME / DEDICATED 2 NOVEMBER 1919".