Summary
First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Wateringbury War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
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 England. 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. One such memorial was raised at Wateringbury as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 41 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The granite memorial cross is located at the edge of the churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*), in close proximity to a group of Grade II- and Grade II*-listed churchyard monuments. The memorial cross stands on a tapering plinth with convex sides, that is raised on a four-stepped square base of a different stone.
End of official list entry
