Stratton War Memorial

First and Second World War memorial. Erected 1919 to the design of Frederick Maltby, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

MATERIALS: Purbeck ashlar.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands on the south side of Dorchester Road, immediately north of the churchyard of the church of St Mary, and faces north. It is to the north of the Grade I listed medieval church and Grade II* listed medieval churchyard cross. The memorial comprises a tall elongated Latin stone cross c3m high with a tapering octagonal shaft and crossarm. A longsword is carved in raised relief on the cross; the crossguard of the sword matching where the cross’ shaft and crossarm meet, and a stone wreath hangs over the crossarm. The shaft stands on an octagonal plinth, which rests on a four-tier stepped octagonal base, together 1.2m high. On the front of the plinth is the inscription in black lettering: 1919/ THIS MONUMENT COM-/ MEMORATES THOSE FROM/ THIS PARISH WHO AT CALL/ OF KING AND COUNTRY/ LEFT ALL THAT WAS/ DEAR TO THEM. ENDURED/ HARDSHIPS. FACED/ DANGERS AND FINALLY/ MADE THE SUPREME/ SACRIFICE THAT OTHERS/ MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM. Three sides of the plinth are inscribed with 10 names, including rank and regiment. The east side is inscribed: ALSO THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE WORLD WAR OF/ 1939 TO 1945/ (NAMES), including three names of the Fallen. A stone kerb surrounds the monument, with additional kerb stones forming paths leading to the north, east, west and south side of the monument. The memorial is framed by two trees to the east and west that were planted as part of the original design scheme.

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.