Some of the more interesting or unusual war memorials I've come across recently. I'd be glad
to hear of any you think I should consider putting on this page.
Battersea Park, London
Eric Kennington's memorial for the 24th London Division stands in Battersea Park. His sculpted soldiers have much in common with his similar group of three soldiers on the Memorial to the Missing of
the Aisne battlefield, at Soissons.
The most intriguing thing about this memorial however is that it's claimed that Robert Graves, a close friend of the sculptor, was the model for one of the soldiers.
If anyone can tell me more about the truth, or otherwise of that story please get in touch.
New Forest, Hampshire
This picture shows an intriguing war memorial which is apparently built over
a well.
The inscription above the entrance says Well of Sacrifice, and there is a list
of those who died in both wars inside the (locked) gate.
What makes the memorial even more fascinating is its location. It is, believe
it or not, in a place called Nomansland, a small village on the edge of the
New Forest in Hampshire.
Briantspuddle in Dorset
...a slender column of Portland stone, soaring gracefully where so many memorials
are blunt and dumpy.
Its inscription from the fifteenth century mystic Juliana
of Norwich - speaks of hope rather than tame resignation:
It is sooth that sin
is cause of all this pain but all shall be well and all shall be well all manner
of thing shall be well.
This memorial is by no less an artist than Eric Gill
and the houses of the street behind were partly designed by his brother MacDonald
Gill.
from The Countryman Feb/March 1992
Great Gable Memorial
The Fell and Rock Climbing Club of Great Britain placed the memorial on the
right into the summit rocks of Great Gable in the Lake District in memory of
those of their number who died in the Great War: the inscription reads:
In glorious
and happy memory of those whose names are inscribed below - members of this
club who died for their country in the European War 1914-1918. These fells were
acquired by their fellow members and by them vested in the National Trust for
the use and enjoyment of the people of our land for all time...
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