Polperro Parish Memorial Cross

The memorial stands beside the South West Coast Path, Downend Point, c140m to the south-east of Downend Cottage on The Warren Talland (National Trust). Overlooking the sea, the granite memorial takes the form of a plain Latin cross that stands on a three-stepped base.

Fifteen names are listed at the foot of the cross shaft on the front face. Below these on the upper stage of the base an inscription reads GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS/ FRIENDS. The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the middle stage reads THIS CROSS/ IS ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN AND AS A/ THANKOFFERING FOR THE RETURN OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN/ PRESERVED ON LAND AND SEA DURING/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918.

A further 17 names are listed at the foot of the cross shaft on the rear face. Below these on the upper stage of the base an inscription reads TRUE LOVE BY LIFE TRUE LOVE BY DEATH IS TRIED/ LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND, WE FOR ENGLAND DIED. On the middle stage, to the rear, the dedication reads TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF TALLAND AND POLPERRO/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1918.

The Second World War dedication is to the west face of the upper stage, reading IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ WORLD WAR 1939 – 45 with 14 names listed below on the middle stage.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 13 December 2016.