Bere Ferrers War Memorial

The memorial stands above the road on Fore Street at the junction with the path leading to the Church of St Andrew (Grade I-listed). It takes the form of a tall granite wheel-head cross. The cross shaft rises from a tapering plinth, square on plan, which stands on a three-stepped base and high circular platform. The middle step supports a low metal railing that is designed to retain wreaths and floral tributes.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads IN/ PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE GALLANT/ MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918./ (9 NAMES). The other names are recorded on the plinth sides. To the rear of the plinth, the dedication to the Second World War soldiers reads WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945./ IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM/ “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN.”/ (21 NAMES).

To one side of the memorial a tablet, in the shape of a scrolled roll of honour, is inclined on the circular platform and abutting the lower step of the base. Its inscription reads IN MEMORY OF/ THE NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS/ WHO WERE KILLED IN A TRAGIC/ ACCIDENT AT BERE FERRERS STATION/ ON SEPTEMBER 24TH 1917/ (10 NAMES). All the inscriptions are in applied metal letters.