Memorial details

Memorial type
Cenotaph
District
Bolton
Town
Bolton
County
Greater Manchester
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 29th July 1920
    Attended by: The Duke of York
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
3185

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Current location

Nelson Square Gardens
Bolton
Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL1 1JT
England

OS Grid Ref: SD 71829 09096
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Sloping base surmounted by the cenotaph. Dedicatory inscription incised on the front face of the cenotaph with two bronze plaques placed below it listing the names of those who died in WW1 and WW2. The dates of WW1 are carved into the stone either side of the WW1 plaque and the dates of WW2 are carved into the stone either side of the WW2 plaque. A wreath is carved in relief at the top centre of the front and rear face of the cenotaph. Square low stone posts are placed at each corner of the base. Badge of the Royal artillery is in relief at the top centre of the WW1 plaque and it is flanked by a rose in relief in the top left and right hand corners.
Inscription
(Front face, centre, in the stonework): TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ THE OFFICERS N.C.O.'S AND MEN/OF THE BOLTON ARTILLERY/ WHO FELL DURING THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ AND THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945 Plaque 1 (Regimental badge at the top then WW1 Names in 4 columns)/ OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ LEST WE FORGET Plaque 2-(WW2 Names in 7 columns)/ AND ANY OTHER BOLTON ARTILLERYMAN WHO FELL IN THE 1939 - 45 WAR Front face, left side: 1914 Front face, right side: 1918
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Allcock, G A
Anson, J
Appleton, A
Arkwright, W E
Arnold, S
Ashton, H L
Ashworth, R
Ashworth, S
Asten, H
Bailey, C
See details for all 302 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 151
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 151
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, initials of forenames, rank, regiment
    Order of information: surname THEN forename
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 151
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 151
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, initials of forenames regiment
    Order of information: surname THEN forename
Components
  • Cenotaph
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • First World War memorial
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Second World War memorial
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • CENOTAPH
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
2010: Telephone call from the countil informed us that the WW2 plaque is coming loose and is no longer flush to the stone work so there is a risk of water ingress behind it. Work is to be done to fix it. 1999: Memorial was Grade II listed 2017: The "TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF..." inscription on main face is quite faded and had to adjust contrast on photograph to read.
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • The Scotsman - Friday 30 July 1920 CENOTAPH UNVEILED BY THE DUKE The Duke of York visited the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show at Bolton yesterday, when thousands of operatives on holiday gave him an enthusiastic welcome . On the way to the show the Duke unveiled a cenotaph which has been erected in the centre of the town to men of the Third East Lancashire Brigade Royal Field Artillery , which was the first unit to fire a shot in the war . Discharged soldiers presented a petition to the Duke urging increased perisions.
  • www.roll-of-honour.com/Lancashire/BoltonArtillery.html
  • Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 09 October 1953 www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000712/19531009/146/0007 WAR MEMORIAL THE Bolton Artillery War Memorial, which is in the form of a Cenotaph in Nelson Square Bolton was erected to commemorate the 1914-8 War and has a bronze plaque afflxed to it with the names of those who fell In World War I. It is proposed to affix a similar plaque with the names of those who died in the 1939-45 War, and as the War Office Record Departments cannot supply the names of men and women who were killed after transfer from the Bolton Artillery to other branches of the Services, appeal to the public Is necessary to get the Information All who had relatives or friends who lost their lives, during the period August 25, 1939, to August 14th, 1945, whlle serving with 53 Field Regiment R.A., or 111 Field Regiment R.A., or while serving elsewhere in the Forces of the Crown, after having first served in one or other of 53 Field Regiment, RA., or 111 Field Regiment, R.A., are asked to send particulars to HON SECRETARY, Bolton War Memorial Committee, Drill Hall, Silverwell-street, Bolton
  • The Book of Bolton, 1929, Industry, Bolton's Industry, Its Story and Romcance, page 48
  • Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 30 July 1920 VISIT OF THE DUKE OF YORK.

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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