Odiham War Memorial

The Odiham War Memorial stands on the south side of Odiham High Street, facing north, and is positioned adjacent to a group of listed buildings. It is set within grass verges. The memorial consists of a tall limestone wheel-head cross with low brick piers and detached side walls, all standing on a three-stepped platform.

The large wheel-head cross, which has a carved wreath around its circumference, sits atop a tapering octagonal cross shaft. The cross head is pierced, enclosing a carving of St George mounted on horseback and slaying a dragon. The cross shaft rises from a two-stage pedestal. The front face of the pedestal features an oval wreath carved in relief, enclosing a reversed broadsword with a decorated hilt. A principal dedicatory inscription reads: "TO THE / GLORIOUS MEMORY / OF THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE / PARISH OF ODIHAM WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR KING &/ COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1919 / PROUD AND GRATEFUL THEIR / FELLOW PARISHIONERS HAVE / HERE RECORDED THEIR NAMES.”

The pedestal is flanked by two short red brick walls, topped with coping stones and terminated by stone piers. Each pier carries two stone panels. The eastern panels list details (name, rank, regiment or unit) for 35 First World War casualties. The western panels list 32 and two female casualties who died in 1917; one was a munitions worker and the other served in the Voluntary Aid Detachment.

A chain extends from each pier to a memorial extension. The extension is identical on each side, built of stone and brick, with detached side walls that project to the lowest step. The lower and upper sections of the walls are coped, and the upper sections have north-facing stone panels. The eastern panel is inscribed "1939 – 1945 / (15 NAMES)" and the western panel reads "KILLED BY ENEMY / ACTION IN ODIHAM / OCT.1940 / (5 NAMES)."

Inscriptions on the steps of the platform read "WE WILL REMEMBER THEM" on the upper riser and "IN MEMORY OF MEMBERS OF RAF ODIHAM WHO HAVE DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY" on the middle riser. The lowest step combines slabs and bricks.