TOPIC:

A couple oy years ago, after a visit to Plymouth, I contacted Plymouth City Council regarding the condition of the grade II listed 1902 war memorial. In particular, the rather poor state of the bronze plaques around the base of the granite obelisk (see photographs).





After sending several further requests/reminders, I recently noticed the following article on the Council’s website:

A Plymouth Hoe memorial dedicated to a grandson of Queen Victoria is to get some TLC as part of the Council’s ongoing review of its assets.

The Prince Christian Victor Memorial was erected in 1902 to commemorate the death of Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, one of Queen Victoria's grandsons, who died of typhoid fever during the Second Boer War.

It also commemorates the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devonshire Regiments who fell during the Boer War 1899 to 1902.

The memorial was designed by architect Frederick William Mark and has three bronze panels by the sculptor Onslow Whiting and one by Emil Fuchs. The front panel by Fuchs shows two angels lifting a soldier ‘towards another world’ with a dedication to the prince.

The three panels by Whiting depict battles from the Boer War, including an attack by the Devonshire Regiment at Wagon Hill during the Siege of Ladysmith, and another shows the Somerset Light Infantry and the Gloucestershire Regiment in action.

The panel on the north has an inscription with the name of the benefactor who paid for memorial – South Africa diamond merchant Alfred Mosely.

Around the sides are the names of Boer War battles, including Ladysmith and Paardeberg – a name Plymouth people may recognise as a gun captured there now stands as a memorial to the crew of HMS Doris in Devonport Park.

The striking 12 metre pink granite obelisk with bronze panels is to get a makeover with the bronze surface cleaned and treated.

As the monument is Grade II listed, the Council took advice from an historic consultant about the treatment methods and will be using a qualified historic contractor to carry out the work which will also entail cleaning the granite steps, repointing and applying wax to plaques on completion. The work is expected to start this week.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for assets said: “Where we can, we try to find funding to protect and preserve our monuments. This is an impressive memorial which is in need of attention.

“Whatever people’s views now are on empire and colonialism, we should not shy away from our history, but acknowledge it, learn from it and remember that many young men from this city would have died in battles far, far away from here.”

Good quote from the Councillor and if you don't ask......

Well done redvers! A good result!