Summary
War Memorial, unveiled 1919, in the form of a stone cross set on a plinth.
Reasons for Designation
Southfields War Memorial is listed 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 sacrifices they made in the First World War;
* Design: as a dignified and imposing stone cross war memorial.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
Details
Tall granite cross, with a sculpted Christ with INRI scroll. At the bottom of the shaft is the inscription: "THIS / HAVE I DONE / FOR THEE". This rests on a rectangular stone block, bearing the inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE / OF THE OFFICERS / NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN / OF THIS CHURCH AND DISTRICT / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1919. This in turn rests on a much larger cuboid block, each side of which bears the names of the Fallen arranged by year, with another rectangular block bearing further names on the front, right and left faces. The whole rests on a stone platform standing in a small rockery bordered by grey stones.
End of official list entry
