The Lee War Memorial

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is situated at the north-eastern corner of the village green, facing Lee Clump Road. It is in the form of the Iona cross, with a slim granite tapering shaft, rectangular in section, surmounted by a wheel-head cross. A rope pattern adorns the arrises of every part of the shaft and cross head. The shaft rises from a shallow, tapering pedestal that stands on a single step of stone blocks, surrounded by a narrow pavement.

Carved interlace decoration adorns the face of the wheel-head cross. The principal dedicatory inscription begins immediately below the wheel-head on the front face, reading TO THE/ GLORY/ OF GOD/ AND IN/ MEMORY OF/ THESE MEN/ OF THE LEE/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING &/ COUNTRY/ HEARTH/ & HOME/ FREEDOM/ & HONOUR/ IN BRITAIN'S/ WAR AGAINST/ GERMAN/ CRUELTY &/ AGGRESSION/ (30 NAMES)/ 1914-1919.

The rear face of the shaft bears a sword carved in relief, below which is carved THANKS BE/ TO GOD/ WHICH/ GIVETH/ US THE/ VICTORY/ THROUGH/ OUR LORD/ JESUS/ CHRIST.

The Second World War dedication is carved in low relief on the front face of the pedestal, reading 1939 – 1945 (12 NAMES). A metal plaque on the front face of the step reads NINE MEN FROM THIS VILLAGE WERE SLAIN AT FROMELLES, NORTHERN/ FRANCE ON 19 JULY 1916. THEIR NAMES ARE RECORDED ON THIS WAR/ MEMORIAL AND SOIL FROM THEIR GRAVES IN FRANCE WAS BROUGHT BACK IN/ 2001 AND BURIED BENEATH THIS PLAQUE IN HONOUR AND REMEMBRANCE OF/ THEIR GALLANTRY AND SACRIFICE.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: a chain carried on low timber posts forms a boundary at the rear of the monument, with six short posts on the periphery of the green in front of the memorial.

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, 11 January 2017.