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The Cross of Sacrifice or “War Cross” is a feature in most cemeteries with 50 or more war graves. It was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield (Link Wikipedia) for the Imperial War Graves Commission (now Commonwealth War Graves Commission Link ).

The monument is normally a tall, freestanding, carefully proportioned four-point limestone Latin cross standing on an octagonal base. Depending upon the size of the cemetery, it can range in height from 18 to 32 feet (4.5 to 9 metres). A downward-pointing bronze broadsword is depicted on the face of the cross. Together, the sword and cross embody the military and spiritual nature of the cemetery; the cross symbolises the faith of the majority of the war dead and the sword represents the military character of the cemetery.

There are many of them in war cemeteries in France and the Commonwealth and also around this country including Peel Green Cemetery at Salford SJ7497 : Peel Green Cemetery War Memorial (Cross of Sacrifice), Leigh Cemetery SJ6899 : Leigh Cemetery War Memorial (Cross of Sacrifice), Newark-on-Trent Cemetery SK8052 : Newark-on-Trent Cemetery, Cross of Sacrifice, Widnes Cemetery SJ5187 : Widnes Cemetery, Cross of Sacrifice and others.

Most of the memorials have this inscription on the base:
THIS CROSS OF SACRIFICE IS ONE IN DESIGN
AND INTENTION WITH THOSE WHICH HAVE
BEEN SET UP IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM AND
OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
WHERE OUR DEAD OF THE
GREAT WAR ARE LAID TO REST,

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
SJ6899 : Cross of Sacrifice - Base

Newark-on-Trent cemetery is important internationally as it contains the Polish War Cemetery and was the historical burial place of General Sikorski (the wartime leader of Poland) whose body has now been returned to Poland, but whose memorial remains.

During the Second World War there were 14 Polish air squadrons in Great Britain; Squadrons of the Polish Air Force Polish squadrons operated from four airfields near Newark: Ingham, Syerston, Swinderby and Winthorpe.

A special plot was set aside in Newark Cemetery for RAF burials and this is now the war graves plot, where all but ten of the 90 Commonwealth and all of the 397 Polish burials were made. The cemetery also contains 49 scattered burials of the First World War. A memorial cross to the Polish airmen buried here was erected in the plot and was unveiled in 1941 by President Raczkiewicz, ex-President of the Polish Republic and head of the war time Polish Government in exile in London, supported by General Sikorski, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Forces and war time Polish Prime Minister. When both men subsequently died, General Sikorski in 1943 and President Raczkiewicz in 1947, they were buried at the foot of the Polish Memorial. General Sikorski's remains were returned to Poland in 1993, but there is still a memorial to him at Newark.

During the war, Polish air crews flying over Newark would circle the cemetery in honour of comrades laid to rest there. Nowadays, veterans and relatives return to Newark each year for the All Souls Ceremony of Remembrance.

Link Commonwealth War Graves Commission