War Memorial

The war memorial in Graffham was erected in 1919 by Sir James Buchanan Bart of Lavington Park and the inhabitants of Graffham and East Lavington to commemorate the First World War. Later, names from the Second World War were added. The memorial is constructed of granite and consists of a two-step square base leading to a square plinth with mouldings above and below. A four-sided granite column rises from the plinth, surmounted by an orb. The front, north side of the plinth features a dedication acknowledging Sir James Buchanan, the inhabitants of Graffham and East Lavington, and the 25 men from those parishes who lost their lives in the First World War, as well as recognising the 117 men who served, with the inscription "Their names shall live forever." The other three sides of the plinth list the names of men who fell between 1914 and 1918, while the base moulding below the plinth displays the names of those who fell between 1939 and 1945. Specific groupings include four names on the east side for 1914 (two from the Ede family) and four for 1915; three from the Wallace family on the base moulding for 1939-1945. The south side lists six names for 1916 and two for 1917, with three names for 1939-1945 on the base moulding. Finally, the west side records nine names for 1918, including two from the Cooper family, with three names for 1939-1945 represented on the base moulding. The memorial's Grade II listing recognises its significance as an eloquent witness to the impact of the First and Second World Wars on the community, and its simple, elegant design in a prominent roadside location.