Memorial details

Memorial type
Cenotaph
District
Anglesey
Town
Holyhead
County
Gwynedd
Country
Wales
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), First World War - civilians, Second World War (1939-1945), Falklands Conflict (1982)
Ceremony
  • Dedicated
    Date: 15 September 1923
    Attended by: All religious denominations have been invited to take part in the service.
  • Unveiled
    Date: 15 September 1923
    Attended by: The Lord-Lieutenant of Anglesey, Commodore Sir Richard Williams Bulkeley, Bart., K.C.B.
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2031

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Current location

OPPOSITE VICTORIA TERRACE
Victoria Square
Holyhead
Anglesey
Gwynedd
LL65 1UT
Wales

OS Grid Ref: SH 24677 82313
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Cenotaph on two stepped base. Added tablets on narrow sides of base record names of fallen of WW2 and Falklands. Broad sides have Welsh and English inscriptions in bronze lettering. Relief of soldier and sailor on left and right faces Victoria Cross paving stone, name on memorial but not identified as a Holder of the V.C. Sword of sacrifice and name panels on front face
Inscription
GWRONIAID Y / RYHFEL MAWR / 1914 - 1918 CYFODWYD Y GOLOFN HON GAN / DRIGOLION CAERGYBI ER COF AM / Y RHAI A FU FARW DROS RYDDID / CYFIAWNDER A GWAREIDDIAD EU HENWAU A BERY O GENHEDLAETH / I GENHEDLAETH HEROES OF THE / GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1918 THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED / BY THE INHABITANTS OF HOLYHEAD / IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED / FOR LIBERTY RIGHTEOUSNESS / AND CIVILIZATION / THEIR NAMES SHALL ENDURE THROUGHOUT / ALL GENERATIONS (names on two faces, two panels each) 1939 - 1945 (names on two panels) FALKLANDS CONFLICT/ 1982/ (Name) IN MEMORYOF WELSH GUARDSMAN / KILLED IN ACTION FALKLAND ISLANDS 1982 / (name and regiment) On paving below, two VC paving stones. Y CAPTEN / JOHN FOX RUSSELL / CORFFLU MEDDYGOL / BRENHINOL Y FYDDIN / 6ED TACHWEDD 1917 CAPTAIN / JOHN FOX RUSSELL / ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS / 6TH NOVEMBER 1917 Small plaque CAPT. JOHN FOX RUSSELL V.C: M.C: R.A.M.C. / CAPT. HENRY T. FOX RUSSELL M.C: R.A.F. / BRIG. GEN. GERALD E. HOLAND C.B: C.M.G: C.I.E: D.S.O. / ORDRE DE LEOPOLD: ORDER OF ST. MAURICE & SST. LAZARUS: CROIX DE GUERRE / CAPTAIN ADJ. ALEXANDER W. MACKAY M.C: R.FUS. / MAJ. ROBERT C. MANNING D.S.: M.C: LEGN. OF HONR: R.E.
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Abbitt, G.
Abell, E. E.
Ackerley, H. O.
Acton, Joseph
Acton, J. W.
Anthony, R.
Anthony, R.
Ashton, A. F.
Ball, G. M.
Ball, R. M.
See details for all 425 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 219
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 219
    Exact count: no
    Information shown: surname, initials of forenames, service / ship / district
    Order of information: service / ship / district, surname, initial
  • First World War - civilians
    Total names on memorial: 66
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 66
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, initials of forenames, ship
    Order of information: ship, surname, initial
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 139
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 139
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, initials of forenames
    Order of information: surname, initials
  • Falklands Conflict (1982)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: rank, initials of forenames surname, battalion, regiment
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Plaques
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Cenotaph
    Measurements: height 4800MM
    Materials: Granite - Cornish
Condition
History
2006: Telephone call from member of the public reported that the names were difficult to read; 2019: All easy to read
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • Parry, Kelly L., Unveiling of the Holyhead War Memorial, 15 September 1923. Gwreiddiau Gwynedd Roots, vol. 81, no. 2, 2021, pp. 40-41.
  • Gwynedd Archaeological Trust: archwilio.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?watprn=GAT66368
  • Holyhead War Memorial Unveiling Pamphlet 15 September 1923.
  • Anglesey Info website: www.anglesey.info/Holyhead-war-memorial/
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Anonymous, 'HOLYHEAD MEMORIAL: UNVEILING CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, Western Mail, Wednesday 12 September 1923.
  • Anonymous, WHERE 2128 OUT OF A POPULATION OF 11,000 JOINED UP: HOLYHEAD'S WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED, Illustrated London News, Saturday 22 September 1923.
  • Anonymous, HOLYHEAD WAR MEMORIAL, Western Mail, Friday 14 September 1923.

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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