Stratton War Memorial

Summary

First and Second World War memorial. Erected 1919 to the design of Frederick Maltby, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

Reasons for Designation

Stratton war memorial, erected in 1919 on the south side of Dorchester Road, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: an elegant Latin stone cross carved in Portland stone ashlar with a longsword in raised relief and a wreath upon the crossarm. It is derived from the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ for the Imperial War Graves Commission;
* Group value: with the Grade I listed church of St Mary and Grade II* churchyard cross.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in 1919 to commemorate 10 residents of Stratton who died during the conflict. It was funded by public subscriptions from over 180 parishioners. The design for the memorial was broadly based on the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ for the Imperial War Graves Commission, except that it includes a wreath around the crossarm. Variations on Blomfield’s design appeared in stone masons catalogues and were chosen for local war memorials across England. A contemporary account records that Stratton War Memorial was erected by the Purbeck Stone Companies from drawings prepared by Frederick Maltby, Architect Surveyor to Dorchester Rural District Council. Maltby later designed the drill hall of the Marabout Barracks (now called the Territorial Army Centre), Dorchester, in 1923.

Statton war memorial was unveiled on 30th November 1919 by the Archdeacon of Dorset, C. L. Dundas, after a military parade and a memorial service in St Mary’s Church. The Archdeacon unveiled the memorial from beneath a Union Jack and gave an address and dedication. Three buglers sounded the Last Post before wreaths were placed at the base of the monument. A further inscription was added to the memorial following the Second World War, to commemorate three residents who lost their lives during that conflict.

Details

First and Second World War memorial. Erected 1919 to the design of Frederick Maltby, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

MATERIALS: Purbeck ashlar.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands on the south side of Dorchester Road, immediately north of the churchyard of the church of St Mary, and faces north. It is to the north of the Grade I listed medieval church and Grade II* listed medieval churchyard cross. The memorial comprises a tall elongated Latin stone cross c3m high with a tapering octagonal shaft and crossarm. A longsword is carved in raised relief on the cross; the crossguard of the sword matching where the cross’ shaft and crossarm meet, and a stone wreath hangs over the crossarm. The shaft stands on an octagonal plinth, which rests on a four-tier stepped octagonal base, together 1.2m high. On the front of the plinth is the inscription in black lettering: 1919/ THIS MONUMENT COM-/ MEMORATES THOSE FROM/ THIS PARISH WHO AT CALL/ OF KING AND COUNTRY/ LEFT ALL THAT WAS/ DEAR TO THEM. ENDURED/ HARDSHIPS. FACED/ DANGERS AND FINALLY/ MADE THE SUPREME/ SACRIFICE THAT OTHERS/ MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM. Three sides of the plinth are inscribed with 10 names, including rank and regiment. The east side is inscribed: ALSO THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE WORLD WAR OF/ 1939 TO 1945/ (NAMES), including three names of the Fallen. A stone kerb surrounds the monument, with additional kerb stones forming paths leading to the north, east, west and south side of the monument. The memorial is framed by two trees to the east and west that were planted as part of the original design scheme.


This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 7 December 2016.

Sources

Websites
The British Newspaper Archive: The Western Gazette Newspaper, Friday 5 December 1919, accessed 1 June 2015 from http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000407/19191205/008/0003
Stratton: Stratton War Memorial, accessed 1 June 2015 from http://strattondorset.com/war-memorial-1.htm
War Memorials Register, accessed 07/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1079
War Memorials Online, accessed 07/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/121430

End of official list entry

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