Long Ditton Memorial Cross

The war memorial, approximately 5m tall, is constructed entirely of stone. It consists of an ornate wheel-head cross decorated with floral carvings, with a rose at the cross axis. The cross is set on an octagonal shaft that is raised on an octagonal plinth which features a moulded base.

The inscription carved on the main face of the plinth reads THE/ MEN OF LONG DITTON/ WHOM THIS CROSS/ COMMEMORATES LEFT AT/ THE CALL OF KING AND/ COUNTRY ALL THAT/ WAS DEAR TO THEM/ ENDURED HARDNESS/ FACED DANGER AND/ FINALLY PASSED OUT/ OF THE SIGHT OF MEN/ BY THE PATH OF DUTY/ AND SELF-SACRIFICE/ GIVING UP THEIR OWN/ LIVES THAT OTHERS/ MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM.

The other sides of the plinth bear dates and lists of names. The plinth stands on an octagonal three-stepped base. An incised dedication on the upper step of the base reads LET THOSE WHO LIVE AFTER SEE TO IT/ THAT THEIR NAMES NOT BE FORGOTTEN, and on the middle step THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LONG DITTON WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR OF 1939-1945.

The memorial stands in a paved area within a small memorial garden. The garden is defined by a low brick wall and a chain carried on wooden posts.

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, 5 December 2016.