| Mortimer War Memorial | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
 | |
 | |
| For soldiers from Stratfield Mortimer killed in war | |
| Unveiled | 9 October 1921 |
| Location | 51°22′34.0″N01°03′28.2″W / 51.376111°N 1.057833°W |
| Designed by | Herbert Maryon |
The Mortimer War Memorial is a monument that commemorates the lives of soldiers from Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, England, who were killed in war. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
The Mortimer War Memorial is located on a small triangular village green in Stratfield Mortimer, at the junction of The Street and Hammonds Heath. [8] A mile to the west sits Mortimer railway station, comprising the Grade II* listed buildings Mortimer Station, and the waiting station thereto. [9] [10]
The memorial is carved from Portland stone. [8] It comprises a three-stepped octagonal base set beneath a four-sided plinth, from which a tapering shaft rises, terminating in a Latin cross. [8] Atop each corner of the plinth rests a gilded and winged allegorical figure, representing Honour, Justice, Fortitude, and Victory. [8]
The front and sides of the plinth each contain two bronze plaques, while the rear contains one; the front and rear also include an inscription carved directly into the stone. [8] [11] [12] The front contains a large plaque with relief of a soldier and sailor standing at reverse arms, each underneath a crossed flag. [8] [11] The plaque includes a inscription commemorating those who died in the First World War, above the words "Lest We Forget". [8] [11] Beneath the larger plaque, a small rectangular plaque includes the dates "1939 – 1945". [8] [11] Engraved in the stone beneath these two plaques is a further expression of gratitude to those who died. [8] [11]
The remaining three faces of the pith each contain a large plaque with a wreath surmounting a list of names. [8] [11] [12] The right plaque lists eighteen names, the rear and left nineteen each. [8] [11] [12] Underneath this on the right face, a smaller plaque with the dates 1945 and 1995 commemorates "50 years of freedom from global conflict" and commemorates those who died in pursuit of that goal. [8] [11] [12] On the rear face, an engraving beneath the plaque indicates that the memorial was erected by parishioners in 1921. [8] [11] [12] Finally, the left face contains a smaller plaque below with "1939 – 1945" at the top, and a list of names underneath. [8] [11] [12]
| Front | Right | Rear | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
IN MEMORY·OF MORTIMER MEN WHO·FELL IN·THE GREAT·WAR 1914–1918 LEST WE NOT FORGET 1939–1945 THESE·DIED·FOR·THEIR·COUNTRY BUT·LIVE·IN·THEIR·COUNTRY'S GRATITUDE | ERNEST·GEORGE·ANDREWS | JOHN·GOSLING | FREDERICK·REEVES |
The memorial was unveiled on 9 October 1921. [1]
The memorial inspired designs for the Pangbourne War Memorial, designed by Vera Waddington. [13]
