War memorial at St George's Church, Ramsgate

The war memorial stands outside the west door of the Church of St George (Grade I), and is approached through the ornamental churchyard gates (Grade II) from Church Hill. It comprises a tall stone cross with a blind wheel-head. The octagonal cross shaft rises from a drum-like, octagonal, plinth. The plinth stands on a low base, that stands on a broad octagonal dias of four steps.

The front face of the cross is ornamented with a reversed sword carved in relief. Carved in relief at the foot of the shaft is a three-masted man o’ war with billowing sails. On the rear of the cross, carved in the wheel-head, is the figure of St George mounted on a rearing horse and thrusting his spear into a dragon.

Around the top of the plinth, carved in relief, is the scripture from John 12.32, reading + I • IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH • WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME. The principal dedication on the front face of the plinth reads TO THE MEN OF/ RAMSGATE WHO/ DIED GLORIOUSLY/ IN THE GREAT/ WAR 1914-1919/ TRUE LOVE BY LIFE/ TRUE LOVE BY DEATH IS TRIED/ LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND/ WE FOR ENGLAND DIED. To the left, the inscription for the Second World War servicemen and women reads IN REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE RAMSGATE MEN & WOMEN/ IN THE SERVICES/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ 1939 – 1945. To the right, the inscription for civilians reads IN REMEMBRANCE OF/ ALL WHO LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN RAMSGATE/ THROUGH ENEMY ACTION/ 1939 – 1945. On the rear of the plinth is carved IN MANUS/ TUAS/ DOMINE.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 30 November 2016.

This List entry was subject to a Minor Enhancement on 10/05/2017