Swyre War Memorial

First World War memorial. Erected 1921.

MATERIALS: Portland stone ashlar set on a concrete foundation.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands opposite a crossroads of the main street and the B3157 on the south side of the village, near to Holy Trinity Church and just to the west of the remains of the old village cross. It faces north, is set in concrete, and enclosed by a set of four ornamented metal posts linked by chains. The memorial comprises a Latin stone cross, bearing the letters I.H.S at the centre; Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus, saviour of mankind), rising from a roll-moulding upon a tapering chamfered shaft 2.5m high. The shaft stands on a square plinth, which rests on a three-tier stepped base, together 1.1m high. On the front of the plinth is inscribed a hexagram or Star of Creation, a trefoil, and the following words in black lettering: THE GREAT WAR/ AUG. 4. 1914 – NOV. 11. 1918/ IN SACRED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF SWYRE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR KING AND COUNTRY. The top tier of the base is inscribed: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY”. On the east and west side of the plinth are six names of the Fallen.

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, 7 December 2016.