Guards Memorial

Coordinates: 51°30′16″N 0°07′46″W / 51.5044°N 0.1295°W / 51.5044; -0.1295
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Guards Memorial
The memorial in 2011
Map
51°30′16″N 0°07′46″W / 51.5044°N 0.1295°W / 51.5044; -0.1295
LocationLondon
DesignerH. Chalton Bradshaw
TypeWar memorial
MaterialPortland stone
Height38 feet
Opening date16 October 1926
Dedicated toWar dead from the Guards Division
The memorial stands to the west side of Horse Guards Parade

The Guards Memorial, also known as the Guards Division War Memorial,

Second World War
and other conflicts since 1918.

Design

The

Foot Guards Regiments, standing easy with their rifles above stone carvings showing the badge of each regiment, each slightly larger than life size, about 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) in high. The statues are modelled on serving guardsmen: Sergeant R. Bradshaw MM of the Grenadier Guards, Lance Corporal J. S. Richardson of the Coldstream Guards, Guardsman J. McDonald of the Scots Guards, Guardsman Simon McCarthy of the Irish Guards (with legs modelled by another guardsman, Lance Sergeant W. J. Kidd) and Guardsman A. Comley of the Welsh Guards.[2] The other three sides each bear a bronze panel, one to either side depicting military equipment and the one to the rear depicting artillery in action. The statues and panels were cast by the William Morris Art Bronze Foundry
using bronze taken from German guns melted down after the First World War.

The west face of the Guards Memorial

Above the five statues, the cenotaph also bears an inscription written by Rudyard Kipling, whose only son John was killed in action while serving the Irish Guards at the Battle of Loos in September 1915: "To the Glory of God // And in the memory of the // Officers Warrant Officers // Non Commissioned Officers & // Guardsmen of His Majesty's // Regiments of Foot Guards // who gave their lives for their // King and Country during the // Great War 1914–1918 and of the // Officers Warrant Officers // Non-Commissioned Officers and // Men of the Household Cavalry // Royal Regiment of Artillery // Corps of Royal Engineers // Royal Army Service Corps Royal // Medical Corps and other // Units who while serving the // Guards Division in France & // Belgium 1915–1918 fell with them in // the fight for the World's Freedom."

Above the main inscription is an incised cross between bands of horizontal incised lines, and lower down is a second inscription: "This monument // was erected by their friends and comrades". Further inscriptions on the sides of the cenotaph record the units involved, and the west side, below another cross, records their

battle honours
.

Construction

The monument was built by the

Chaplain-General to the Forces, Rev. Alfred Jarvis, and a march-past by 15,000 serving and former guardsmen. The memorial suffered bomb damage in the Second World War, and some was left unrepaired as "honourable scars".[3]

Later history

After World War II, an inscription was added below the statues to commemorate those who died between 1939 and 1945:[4] "This memorial also commemorates all those members // of the Household Division who died in the Second World War // and in the Service of their Country since 1918."

The memorial received Grade II listing in 1970,[5] and was promoted to Grade I in October 2014.[6]

  • The memorial in 2009, looking northeast towards Horse Guards Parade and the Admiralty
    The memorial in 2009, looking northeast towards Horse Guards Parade and the Admiralty
  • Wreaths laid before the five bronze statues in 2009
    Wreaths laid before the five bronze statues in 2009

See also

References

  1. ^ Ward-Jackson (2011), Public Sculpture of Historic Westminster (p. 74)
  2. ^ Guards Memorial, roll-of-honour.com
  3. ^ War Memorials Archive, Imperial War Museum
  4. ^ "Monuments in St James's Park". The Royal Park. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  5. ^ National Heritage List for England, Historic England
  6. ^ First World War Memorials Honoured, Historic England, 10 November 2014