St Katharine's Church War Memorial, Holt

First World War memorial.

DESCRIPTION: The war memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Katharine (Grade II*-listed), at the junction of the southern wall of the tower and the western wall of the south aisle. The churchyard also contains various Grade II-listed monuments.

It is of white marble and takes the form of a Latin cross rising from a three-stepped, square base. The cross is adorned with a sword in its scabbard and belt, all carved in relief and sculpted to appear as though they are hung on the cross. Incised to the foot of the cross are the letters R.I.P. Resting on the upper step of the base is a sculpted depiction of a Wiltshire Regiment military cap propped against the cross. A tablet carved in the shape of a scroll abuts the bottom step of the base at an angle.

The inscription and names are to the south-west face of the base and stone tablet in leaded lettering, painted black. The upper step of the base carries the dedication TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVE AND HONOUR/ TO THE MEMORY OF/ MY BELOVED NEPHEW. Directly below to the middle step are the words HAROLD FRANK BARCLAY TURNER./ CAPT. 1ST WILTS REGT./ KILLED WHILST ON ACTIVE SERVICE./ SEPT 1ST 1917 AGED 22 YRS./ LAID TO REST IN YPRES./ "IT IS JUST A STREAM DIVIDES US./ AND THE LAND ON BOTH SIDES IS GOD'S". To the left of the inscription is an incised depiction of the Wiltshire Regiment badge in a circular inset panel. To the bottom step is the inscription ERECTED BY HIS AUNT. H. M. BARCLAY.

The tablet at the foot of the memorial carries the following dedication ROLL OF HONOUR. HOLT. 1914–1918./ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"./ (28 NAMES)/ "WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT WE MAY LIVE."

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The whole memorial stands on a bed of rough-dressed stone carved to resemble a rocky outcrop. It is enclosed by four iron corner posts, surmounted by fleur-de-lys finials, and joined by a metal bar with decorative twists; the bar that forms the south-west boundary also has a cast metal depiction of the Wiltshire Regiment badge to the centre.