Semley War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Semley War Memorial is located in the churchyard to the north of the Church of St Leonard (Grade II-listed), immediately adjacent to the main entrance to the church. It is also in close proximity to the Grade II-listed Walls and Railings with Gates on North and West Sides of Churchyard.

The memorial is of rough-hewn granite and takes the form of a tall wheel-head cross with an inverted Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief to the north face of the cross-head and shaft. This rises from a tapering square plinth that surmounts a square stone base, which has been chamfered to the north face. All of the inscriptions and names are to the north face of the memorial and in leaded lettering.

At the bottom of the cross shaft, written within a shield-shaped inset panel, are the words TO THE/ GLORY OF/ GOD. The inscription continues directly below in an inset panel carved into the plinth AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (16 NAMES).

On the chamfered panel at the north face of the base is the additional inscription 1939 – 1945./ (5 NAMES).

The memorial stands within a small rectangular area of gravel, edged by stone kerbs, which are raised at the corners.