Grasmere War Memorial

MATERIALS: Westmorland Green Slate.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on a low outcrop in Broadgate Recreation Ground in Grasmere and comprises a Celtic-style wheel-head cross. The front face of the cross is decorated with carved Scandinavian interlace designs around a central boss in the cross-head. The cross surmounts a rectangular tapered shaft which has designs incorporating panels which symbolise peace and victory, a dove bearing an olive branch, a herringbone design panel, and a stag trampling upon the serpent of evil, a traditional motif for the Christian conquest over sin and error.

Below this on the shaft is the inscription carved in relief which reads IN HONOUR OF THE MEN/ OF GRASMERE WHO/ FOUGHT AND IN EVER/ THANKFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN WHO DIED/ FOR GOD, FOR KING, FOR HOME/ FOR FREEDOM, PEACE & RIGHT/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945.

The shaft is set upon a tapered plinth with sloping shoulders which is inscribed with THE IMMORTAL DEAD/ THESE DIED IN WAR THAT WE AT PEACE MIGHT LIVE/ THESE GAVE THEIR BEST, SO WE OUR BEST SHOULD GIVE/ NOT FOR THEMSELVES, FOR FREEDOM, HOME AND RIGHT/ THEY FOUGHT AND BID US FORWARD TO THE FIGHT/ SEE YE TO IT THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.

On the back face of the cross and shaft are similar carved interlace designs with the possible name of the makers or masons but this is illegible. The shaft is set upon a rectangular paved and kerbed enclosure.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 17 February 2017.