the stones of london’s war memorials - uclucfbrxs/homepage/walks/war... · 2015-12-31 · urban...

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TheStonesofLondon’sWarMemorials

‘IfIshoulddie,thinkonlythisofme;Thatthere’ssomecornerofaforeignfieldThatisforeverEngland’TheSoldier,RupertBrooke(1887-1915)

MemorialattheTowerofLondonforthecentenaryoftheoutbreakofWWI:'BloodSweptLandsandSeasofRed'byceramicistPaulCummins.TheopeninglinesofRupertBrooke’sfamouspoem(above)illustratesmuchofthesentimentsassociatedwiththedesignofwarmemorialsandwargraves.Ithasbecometraditional,onthemostpart,forstonesrepresentingthesoldiers’countriesoforigintobeusedinmemorialsconstructedtocommemoratethem.Forexample,thewarmemorialscommemoratingtheBritishForceskilledduringWWIinFranceandBelgium,suchasThiepvalandtheMeninGate,arebuiltfrombrick,withpiers,vaults,columnsandthepanelsbearingtheinscriptionsofnamesinPortlandStone.Aswewillseebelow,stoneshavebeenimportedfromallovertheWorldtocommemoratethesoldiersfromthosecountrieswhofoughtintheEuropeantheatresofthefirsthalfofthe20thCentury.Indeedtherearecornersofforeignfields,orinfactLondon,thatareforeverAustralian,CanadianorMaltese.IampredominantlyfocusingonmemorialstoWWIandWWII.ManyoftheWarMemorialsandtheirstonescataloguedbelowhavebeenpreviouslydescribedinotherUrbanGeologyinLondonGuides.TheseincludethememorialsinthevicinityofHydeParkCorner(Siddall&Clements,2013),ontheVictoriaEmbankment(Siddall&Clements,2014)andtheMaltaMemorialneartheTowerofLondon(Siddall,2014).Detaileddescriptionsofthesememorialsisprovidedinthesetextsandtheyaresimplylistedhere.ThewarmemorialsinUCLaredescribedinSiddalletal.(2014).FurtherinformationisalsoavailablefromtheCommonwealthWarGravesCommissionandtheWarMemorialsTrust.WarMemorialsCenotaph|WhitehallSW1ATheCenotaphonWhitehallisthefocusofBritain’sremembranceceremonies.ItwasdesignedbyarchitectSirEdwinLutyensandcompletedin1920.Thewordmeans‘emptytomb’.ItisbuiltfromPortlandStoneandisalargelyunadornedpillar,withacarvedwreathatbothends.ReplicasoftheLondonCenotaphoccurinAuckland,NewZealand;London,OntarioandinHongKong.OfthesecertainlytheAucklandcenotaphisinPortlandStoneimportedfromEngland.

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TheCenotaph,Whitehall;9thNovember2014RAFMemorial|VictoriaEmbankmentThisisasimplepillarinPortlandWhitbed,commemoratingairmenlostinbothWorldWars.ItwasdesignedbySirReginaldBlomfieldin1923,thegildedeagleonthetopisbysculptorWilliamReidDick.BattleofBritainMemorial|VictoriaEmbankmentThismemorialwaserectedin2003bysculptorPaulDayandarchitectsDonaldInsallAssociates.Itrecycledand25mlongDalbeattieGranitesuperstructuretoaair-ventwhichhadbeeninstalledwhentheembankmentwasconstructedinthe1860s.Anewgranite,probablyKemnayGranitefromAberdeenshirewasusedonthetopofthemonument.SubmarineWarMemorial|VictoriaEmbankmentThismonumentontheembankmentwaserectedin1922,designedbyA.H.RyanTennisonwithbronzeattachmentsbyF.BrookHitch,thismemorialiscoveredinsmallbronzeanchorswhichactashookstowhichwreathscanbeattachedonRemembranceSunday.ThismonumentprobablyutilisedtheexistinggranitealreadyinplaceontheVictoriaEmbankment.Unfortunately,theoriginofthisstoneisunknown.Itisacoarsegrainedgranitewithpinkorthoclasefeldspars,whitefeldsparandbiotite.Thereareafewmegacrysts,2-3cminlength,ofwhitefeldsparswithrimsofpinkfeldspar(Siddall&Clements,2014).CamelCorpsMemorial|VictoriaEmbankmentGardensTheImperialCamelCorpsBrigadeservedintheMiddleEastduringtheFirstWorldWar.Althoughinitiallyasmalloutfit,fourbattalionswereeventuallyformed,twoAustralian,aNewZealandBattallionandanotherwithsoldiersfromGreatBritain,whichincludedmenfromIndia.Thismemorial,featuringabronzeridermountedontheshipofthedesertwasmadebyasculptorwhowasalsoamemberofthecorps,MajorCecilBrown.HestandsonaplinthofPortlandStone.Themonumentwaserectedin1921.MaltaMemorial|BywardStreet,EC3ThissimplemonumentcommemoratestheGeorgeCrossIslandofMaltawhichunderwentsiegefrom1940-42anddefendedtheMediterraneanforthealliedconvoys.Itisageologicalgem,beingcomposedof

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theScutellaBedoftheLowerCorallineLimestone,quarriedonthesmallislandofGozointheMaltesearchipelago.Itispackedwithfossilsanddollarechinoids,Scutellasubrotunda(Siddall,2014).

TheMaltaMemorial,BywardStreet,nexttothechurchofAllHallows-by-the-Tower;9thNovember2014MerchantNavyMemorial|TrinitySquareGardens,TowerHill,EC3ThisimpressivemonumentinbronzeandPortlandStone,commemoratestheMerchantNavyandfishingfleetswhowerelostatseasinboththefirstandsecondWorldWars.TheWWIsection,bySirEdwardLutyenswascompletedin1928andcommemorates12,000menwhohaveagraveatsea.SirEdwardMaufedesignedtheWWIIsection,withsculpturebyCharleswheeler(inPortlandStone),commemorates24casualties.Thiswascompletedin1955(CommonwealthWarGraves).RoyalArtilleryMemorial|HydeParkCorner,SW1ThismonumentfeaturesaHowitzercravedfromPortlandStoneonaplinth,withveryfinereliefcarvingandbronzesbysculptorCharlesJagger.JaggerworkedarchitectLionelPearsonandthemonumentwascompletedin1925(Siddall&Clements,2013).MachineGunCorpsMemorial|HydeParkCorner,SW1ThissmallmemorialstandsonthenorthernsideoftheHydeParkCornerroundaboutgarden.Thewhitelimestoneplinthissurmountedbyabronzemalenude,andrealVickersmachinegunscoatedinbronzeandwithbronzewreaths.ItwasdesignedbyFrancisDerwentWoodandcompletedin1925.ThemonumentwasvilifiedbyPevsner(Bradley&Pevsner,2003)whofundittobewoefullyinappropriate.Thewhitestoneusedontheplinthcontainsabundantstylolitesandfossilfragments.ItsoriginisnotconfirmedbutitbearsastrikingsimilaritytoPietraD’Istria,aJurassicLimestonefromtheCroatiancoast.Ifso,thisisanunusualcaseofanon-BritishstonebeingusedonamonumenttocommemorateBritishForces.AustralianWarMemorial|HydeParkCorner,SW1Completedin2003,thewallofgreencharnockitethatistheAustralianWarMemorialwasdesignedbyTonkinZulaikhaGreerArchitectsandartistJanetLaurence.ThestoneisLagunaVerdefromJerramungupin

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south-westernAustralia.Thisisanancientrock,2.6Ga,fromtheYilgarnCratoncontainingbluegreenmicroclinefeldspar,hornblende,plagioclaseandquartz(Siddall&Clements,2013).RAFBomberCommandMemorial|Piccadilly,SW1AlargeneoclassicalstructurebyLiamO”ConnorhousetheRAFBomberCommandMemorialerectedin2012.ItisbuiltofPortlandWhitbedfromJordan’sQuarry.Inside,thebronzeairmenstandonaplinthofpurpleporphyryfromtheEasternDesertofEgypt.ThisstonewasknowntotheRomansasImperialPorphyryanditisnowmarketedsimplyasEgyptianRedPorphyry(Siddall&Clements,2013).CanadaMemorial|GreenParkSW1ThismemorialcommemoratesCanadianforceswhofoughtanddiedinbothWorldWars.Itismainlyconstructedfrompolished,brownAnticostiGranitefromQuebec,a1Gacharnockiticgranite.DecorativeinlaysofpalebrownAppalachiangraniteareusedtomakethecompassrose(Siddall&Clements,2013).RAFCoastalCommandMemorial|Cloister,WestminsterAbbey,SW1Thismemorial,erectedin2004,commemoratestheairmenoftheRAFCoastalCommandSquadronswhofoughtintheBattleoftheAtlantic(WWII),whichwasatitspeakin1944.ThememorialismadefromalightgreyCarraramarblewhichperfectlyechoesthestormyseasandskiescarvedinreliefbyNeilandRichardTalbot.ThegreyvarietiesofCarraramarble,showingthiscloudypatterningaremarketedasBardiglioNuvolato.TheCarraramarbles,geologicallytheHettangianMarbles,belongtoaformationofTriassicandJurassiclimestones,metamorphosedintheMioceneandarequarriedintheAlpiApuaneofTuscany.

RAFCoastalCommandMemorial,WestminsterAbbeyIntelligenceServicesMemorial|Cloister,WestminsterAbbey,SW1ThismemorialcommemoratesallmembersoftheBritishIntelligenceServicessince1909,includingthosewhoworkedintheGovernmentCodeandCypherSchoolduringWWIIatBletchleyPark.Itisbysculptor

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JohnMaineandwasdedicatedbytheQueenin2009.Ittakestheformofaconvexbowl,withapatternreminiscentofthedesignofthe13thCenturyCosmatiPavementintheAbbey’sSanctuary.Itisashapeknownasaquincunx,thearrangementof5dotsondice.ThestonesusedcommemorateintelligenceworkersaregranitesderivedfromEngland,NorthernIreland,ScotlandandWales.UnfortunatelytheiroriginsarenotrecordedontheAbbey’swebsite.Themainbowlisofagreygneiss.IfthisisaBritishstone,thenthemostlikelycandidateisoneofthegneissesfromtheLewisianComplexofScotland.Howeveritmaywellhavebeenderivedfromabroad.Theroundelontheleft,asonelooksatthemonumentrepresentsEngland.Thisis300MaCornishMegacrysticGranite,probablyfromeithertheLand’sEndorStAustellPlutons.Thetoproundel,unfortunatelyoutofmyreach,isabluegreyporphyrywithwhitefeldsparphenocrysts.ThisisprobablyWales’scontributionandIbelieveittobeGreyTreforPorphyry,a450MagraniticrockfromtheGarnforIntrusionontheLleynPeninsula.Thegraniteroundelatthebottomhasslightlypurplishorthoclasefeldspars,whiteplagioclase,hornblendeandbiotite.ItisalmostcertainlyMourneGranitefromtheTertiaryintrusionsofCountyDown,NorthernIreland.ThismeanstheroundelontherightisScottishGranite.Unfortunatelyitisnon-typicalbeingcutthroughbyaveinofinkgranitewhichdominatestheroundel.Theoatmealtextureofthesurroundingbrown-greygranitesuggestthatitmightbefromKemnay.

JohnMaine’sIntelligenceServicesMemorialatWestminsterAbbey.Ontherightaretop;theScottishGranitecutbyapinkorthoclase-richvein.BelowistheCornishMegacrysticGranite.AnimalsatWarMemorial|BrookGate,ParkLane,W1Thismemorialrecognisesalltheanimalsthathaveplayedapartinwarfromhorsesandcamelstopigeonsandeventheglow-wormsthatprovidedlightinthetrenches.Itdepictswar-wearyanimalswalkingthroughagatewayinawallofPortlandStonetofreedomandanopenfieldbeyond.ThesculptorwasDavidBackhouse.ThemonumentwasunveiledinNovember2004.ConscientiousObjectors’Memorial|TavistockSquareGardens,WC1HArough-hewnblockofLakeDistrictGreenSlatesitsintheNWcornerofTavistockSquareGardens.Thismonumentcommemoratesthestrugglesofconscientiousobjectorstoasserttheircommitmentnottobeinvolvedintheviolenceofwar.Itwaserectedin1994anddesignedbyarchitectHughCourt.Thisstoneis

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fromtheOrdovicianvolcanicrocksofCumbria,pyroclasticdepositsaccumulatedinalakeandthusdevelopingthestrikingsedimentarystructureswhichhaveearnedthemthename‘ornamentalslates’.MemorialstoIndividualsEdithCavellMemorial|StMartin’sPlace,WC2EdithCavellwasaBritishRedCrossnurseworkinginBrussels,whofoundherselfbehindenemylineswhenGermanyinvadedBelgiumin1914.ShewaschargedwithhelpingalliedsoldierstoescapeandexecutedbytheGermanson12thOctober1915.HermonumentisbySirGeorgeFramptonandwascompletedin1920.ThestatueofEdithCavellisinwhiteCarraraStatuariomarble,whilstthepillarbehindherisinCornishDeLankGranite(right).NoorInayatKhan|GordonSquareGardens,WC1EThemonumenttoWWIIResistancefighter,NoorInayatKhanisdescribedinSiddalletal.(2013)NoorwasaradiooperatorforSpecialOperations,workinginFrance.HowevershewasbetrayedandexecutedbytheGermansinSeptember1944.HermemorialhasabronzebustbyKarenNewman(2012)whichsitsuponaplinthofLakeDistrictGreenSlate.ChelseaWarMemorial|SloaneSquareSW1TheWarMemorialstandsattheeasternendoftheSquareandcommemoratesthemenandwomenofChelseawhodiedintheFirstandSecondWorldWars.Thestyleofthememorialisa‘crossofsacrifice’,amuchrepeatedformdesignedtobereproducedinarangeofsizesbySirReginaldBlomfieldin1918.Characteristicallyabronzelongswordisattachedtooneside.ThisstyleofmemorialisfoundinmostlargewarcemeteriesandisusedfortownmemorialsintheUK,CommonwealthandtheUnitedStates.Likemanyofitsbrethren,thiscrossanditsplinthisconstructedfromPortlandWhitbed.

References&FurtherReading

AnimalsatWarMemorial:http://www.animalsinwar.org.uk

Bradley,S.&Pevsner,N.,2003,TheBuildingsofEngland:London6:Westminster.YaleUniversityPress.,872pp.

CommonwealthWarGravesCommission:http://bit.ly/1yj8kdi

MIA,2011,MarbleInstituteofAmerica;GlossaryofStoneIndustryTerms;https://www.marble-institute.com/consumers/glossary.pdf

Price,M.T.,2007,DecorativeStone:TheCompleteSourcebook.ThamesandHudson,288pp.

Siddall,R,2014,SpitfiresandSand-Dollars:TheMemorialtotheSiegeofMalta,BywardStreetEC3;UrbanGeologyinLondonNo.19,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/MaltaMemorial.pdf

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Siddall,R.&Clements,D.,2013,TheWarMemorialsatHydeParkCornerandGreenPark.UrbanGeologyinLondonNo.4,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/HydeParkCorner.pdf

Siddall,R.&Clements,D.,2014,Neverinthefieldofurbangeologyhavesomanygranitesbeenlookedatbysofew!AstrollalongtheVictoriaEmbankmentfromCharingCrosstoWestminster&BlackfriarsBridge.,UrbanGeologyinLondonNo.21,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/Embankment.pdf

Siddall,R.,Kirk,W.&Robinson,E.,2014,TheUrbanGeologyofUCLandtheUniversityofLondon;urbanGeologyinLondonNo.1,20pp.,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/UCL&UoL.pdf

WarMemorialsTrust:http://www.warmemorials.org|https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk

WestminsterAbbey:RAFCoastalCommandhttp://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/raf-coastal-command

WestminsterAbbey:IntelligenceServices:http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/intelligence-services-mi5,gchq,sis

TheRoyalArtilleryMemorialatHydeParkCornerHowtocitethisarticle:Siddall,R,2014,TheStonesofLondon’sWarMemorials;UrbanGeologyinLondonNo.23,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/WarMemorials.pdf©DrRuthSiddall,UniversityCollegeLondon,GowerStreet,LondonWC1E6BT,UK:r.siddall@ucl.ac.uk

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