The Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Winchester War Memorial

The Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Winchester War Memorial

This Portland stone memorial stands in Winchester Cathedral Close, positioned outside the west end of the Cathedral. When viewed from the west looking east, the memorial cross is dramatically framed by the cathedral's great west window. Stone steps flank either side of the memorial, leading down to the lower forecourt in front of the cathedral's western entrances.

The memorial comprises a tall wheel-head cross rising from a moulded collar on an octagonal cross shaft. The circlet of the wheel-head is formed by roses and lilies, representing England and France respectively, which trail down the Latin cross head to the top of the shaft. The cross shaft ends in a moulded foot carved with the coats of arms of Winchester City, the Hampshire Regiment, Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight. The west face of the lower shaft is inscribed with 1914 / + / 1919, whilst the east face bears 1939 / + / 1945.

The cross shaft stands on a two-stage base, octagonal in plan. The upper stage comprises an octagonal drum with a shallow circular head. Carved in relief around the circular head is the inscription: 1914 1919 HE SHALL DELIVER THEIR SOULS FROM FALSEHOOD AND WRONG: AND DEAR SHALL THEIR BLOOD BE IN HIS SIGHT.

The west face of the upper stage reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY CITIZENS OF WINCHESTER WHO UPHELD UNDER KING GEORGE V THE TRADITIONS OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE HANDED DOWN FROM THE DAYS OF KING ALFRED.

The east face bears: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE UNCOUNTED HOST FROM HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT WHO DIED FOR ENGLAND IN THE GREAT WAR WHEN SERVING IN THE NAVY THE MERCANTILE MARINE THE ARMY AND THE AIR FORCE BE MINDFUL OF THEM O LORD AND GRANT TO THEIR CHILDREN THE SAME FAITHFULNESS.

The base of this stage is inscribed: AND OF THOSE WHO SO FREELY GAVE THEIR LIVES 1939-1945 REMEMBER ALSO THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO DIED 1939-1945.

The lower stage of the base carries the structure from the highest step down to the level of the forecourt below. On this stage's east face, dedications to the Hampshire Regiment for both World Wars read: 1914-1919 / TO SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE OF THE REGULAR, MILITIA, TERRITORIAL & SERVICE BATTALIONS OF THE HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT WHO DIED IN FLANDERS FRANCE ITALY RUSSIA, MACEDONIA PALESTINE EGYPT MESOPOTAMIA PERSIA INDIA AND SERBIA THE DARDANELLES OR WERE LOST AT SEA IN THE MEDITERRANEAN / 1939-1945 / TWO THOUSAND & NINETY FOUR DIED ON LAND SEA AND IN THE AIR.

To either side of this inscription, blocks of four stages extend from the base into the forecourt, stepping back to the uppermost stage. Each block is topped with a large bronze wreath, and the stage below is ornamented with small roses carved in low relief.

The south-east block carries inscriptions reading:

East face: TO SEVENTY FOUR OF THE HAMPSHIRE YEOMANRY CARABINIERS

North face: TO THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS AND THE HAMPSHIRE ROYAL ARTILLERY

The north-east block bears:

South face: TO FORTY EIGHT OF THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS AND THE HAMPSHIRE ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS

East face: TO SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN OF HMS HAMPSHIRE SUNK BY A MINE OFF THE ORKNEY ISLANDS JUNE 5TH 1916

The two blocks frame a sheltered section of the lowest step in the forecourt, creating a space for the placement of wreaths and floral tributes. Within this sheltered space, a stone from the Ypres Cloth Hall is set into the surface in front of the memorial, carved with a cross of Lorraine and Ypres.