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Compton Bassett

The war memorial in the central Wiltshire village of Compton Bassett is designed after Sir Reginald Blomfield’s Cross of Sacrifice, being a plain cross with a sword on the front. This one however has the sword carved as a recessed shape, rather than having a sculpture fixed to the front face. The memorial stands on a tall hexagonal plinth and a square base at the top of a flight of twelve stone steps which runs up between hedges from The Street. The memorial stands in a gravelled area, which also contains two benches, and is itself surrounded by a low hedge.

The memorial was covered in algae and lichen, making the inscriptions difficult to read, and the steps had a covering of algae and lichen and the treads were deteriorating, presenting a hazard. In December 2002 English Heritage offered a grant of £825 towards work to clean the memorial of algae and lichen using a patented cleaning system and to restore the steps by cutting out the treads and inserting new ones exactly the same in appearance and fixed with lime mortar.

In 2017 War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £830 towards the undertaking of conservation works to clean the memorial using the Thermatech steam cleaning system. In addition, loose and failing mortar was raked-out from the memorials construction joints, following which these were repointed using a lime mortar.

The inscription on the memorial reads

Not with earthly eyes or fleshly ear
But lifted high above mortality
We see at last the eternal hills
And hear the sighing of the universal sea
And kneeling breathed in that holy place
We know immortal beauty face to face

The names commemorated are

1914 – 1918
Major Frederick George Greenstreet
Pte. William John Cook
Capt. Walter Reginald Powell
Pte. Tom Raisey Cook

1939 – 1945
Capt. C. Diccon Earle RHA
Pte. Robert C. Smith The Buffs
Flt. Lt. Hugh H. Fielding-Johnson DFC RAF
Capt. Tim C. Lindsay-Peto MC Scots Guards
Able Seaman Stanley J. Lewis RN

The memorial was planned and mostly paid for by Capt Fielding Johnson who lived at the Manor Farm and Capt Guy Benson who lived at Compton Bassett House. Capt Fielding Johnson had lost both his only son and his step-son in World War II. The verse on the memorial was composed by him. The memorial stands on the site of the old village hall and is likely to have been built by Messrs Blackfords of Calne, as Capt Fielding Johnson habitually used that firm for building work. The firm employed their own architect, Peter White. The service of dedication took place on Sunday 12th November 1950 and was conducted by Rev Vernon Thomas.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM227
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 23969

The memorial is listed building number 489844

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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