Duston War Memorial

The Duston War Memorial dates to the aftermath of the First World War. It stands in an open area off Main Road, near the entrance to the grounds of the Grade I listed Church of St Luke. The memorial is constructed of Derbyshire stone and Weldon stone, and comprises a three-stepped square base supporting a tall, square pillar topped with a small plain Latin cross, reaching a total height of approximately 3.5 metres. Moulded drapery decorates the top of the pillar, and a laurel wreath is carved in relief at its base. An incised stone tablet on the front face commemorates the men of Duston who died in the Great War (1914-1919), listing 30 names and including the inscription "TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF DUSTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919/ (30 NAMES)/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY/ DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS." A brass plaque on a side face commemorates those from the parish who died or served in HM Forces during the Second World War (1939-1945), listing 13 names and noting “THIS PLAQUE/ WAS ERECTED TO/ COMMEMORATE THOSE/ OF THIS PARISH WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ AND ALSO/ THOSE WHO SERVED IN/ HM FORCES DURING THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 - 1945/ THESE ARE THEY WHO MADE/ THE SUPREME SACRIFICE”. The memorial is set within a small, splayed enclosure enclosed by ironstone walls and featuring a stone-flagged base.