Birchington and Acol War Memorial and memorial enclosure

The memorial stands behind the churchyard wall, in front of the Church of All Saints (Grade II*). It takes the form of a tall granite cross that rises from a pyramidal foot. The foot has shouldered panels to front and rear and stands on a pedestal with inscriptions to each face. The pedestal stands on an octagonal three-stepped base of a different stone type. The cross edges are decorated with bead and reel ornament, and the centre of the cross head features a carved rose to the front face, with a fleur-de-lys to the rear.

The principal dedicatory inscription is recorded to the foot of the cross on the front face, reading: 1914 - 1919/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ HALLOWED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM/ BIRCHINGTON AND ACOL/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR. An inscription to the rear of the cross foot, facing the church, reads THE POPULATION OF/ BIRCHINGTON/ AND ACOL/ AUG. 1914 WAS 2622/ 474 MEN JOINED H.M. FORCES OF/ WHOM 69 GAVE THEIR LIVES.

Three sides of the pedestal list the names of the casualties, together with their rank and regiment, unit, or ship, beginning with officers. The fourth side, facing west to the church, carries the inscription: THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE./ HAIL AND FAREWELL:/ ALL HONOUR GIVE/ TO THOSE WHO, NOBLY/ STRIVING, NOBLY FELL/ THAT WE MIGHT LIVE./ OXENHAM, followed by, WELL DONE FOR THEM/ AND FAIR ISLE, WELL/ FOR THEE/ WHILE THAT THY BOSOM/ BEARETH SONS LIKE THOSE/ THE LITTLE GEM/ SET IN THE SILVER SEA/ SHALL NEVER FEAR HER FOES./ ARNOLD.

An inscription running around the front of the upper step of the base records information about the subscriptions to the memorial fund. The whole stands within an enclosure at the eastern angle of the churchyard, walled in flint and brick with railings to the front and gates to either side, and to the rear with brick walls and a central gate.

The stone plaque on the rear wall to the left reads: 1939-1945/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN HALLOWED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM BIRCHINGTON AND ACOL/ WHO FELL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ (17 NAMES) whilst that to the right reads ALSO/ (16 NAMES)/ THESE TABLETS WERE ERECTED BY/ THE MAYOR AND BURGESSES/ OF THE BOROUGH OF MARGATE/ NOVEMBER 1952.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 3 March 2017.