Datchet War Memorial

Heritage listing

Details First World War memorial, 1920, by Sir Lionel Henry Cust, with later additions for the Second World War. MATERIALS: Portland stone with marble plaques with leaded lettering. DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a hexagonal cenotaph with a three-handled urn on top with swags hanging from the handles. Between the swags are lion masks in relief. A carved relief below the urn has representations relating to the First World War including an aircraft, a tank, and an airship. On three of the bottom corners of the obelisk are large shields bearing the arms of the Army, Navy and RAF in relief. On the other three sides of the memorial are tall marble plaques. The plaque on the front face of the obelisk reads THIS MONUMENT/ IS ERECTED BY INHABITANTS OF/ DATCHET/ TO COMMEMORATE THE GREAT WAR/ OF 1914-1919/ AND THE GLORIOUS VICTORY OF/ THE BRITISH FORCES AND THEIR ALLIES/ BY SEA, ON LAND, AND IN THE AIR/ OVER THE COMBINED FORCES OF/ GERMANY, AUSTRIA, TURKEY AND BULGARIA/ ALSO/ TO RECORD THE SHARE TAKEN BY THIS/ VILLAGE IN PROMOTING THIS VICTORY/ AND/ TO PAY GRATEFUL AND REVERENT TRIBUTE/ TO THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. A second plaque is inscribed THE NAMES HERE RECORDED/ ARE OF THOSE INHABITANTS OF/ DATCHET/ WHO AT THE CALL OF DUTY LAID DOWN/ THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ (NAMES with regiment/arm of service and rank)/ MOURN NOT FOR THEM/ FOR THEY CAN NEVER DIE. The third plaque reads THE NUMBERS HERE RECORDED/ ARE OF THOSE INHABITANTS OF/ DATCHET/ WHO BY ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE/ IN FOREIGN LANDS OR IN THIS COUNTRY/ OR BY SERVICES RENDERED AT HOME/ CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREAT VICTORY/ WHICH THIS MONUMENT COMMEMORATES/ IN THE NAVAL MILITARY AND TERRITORIAL FORCES BEFORE THE WAR/ 40/ JOINED THE FORCES DU

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.