Memorial details

Memorial type
Serviceman / Servicewoman
District
City Of Westminster
Town
St James
County
Greater London
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), 20th Century Wars (1900-1999), Regimental Memorials
Maker
W MORRIS ART BRONZE FOUNDRY (Founder / Foundry)
GILBERT LEDWARD (Sculptor)
MR HAROLD CHALTON BRADSHAW (Architect)
BIRMINGHAM GUILD (Manufacturer)
Ernest Gillick ARA SARA (Letter cutter / Engraver)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 16 October 1926
    Attended by: FM HRH Prince Arthur Duke of Connaught KG,Gen Sir George Higginson GCB GCVO
  • Dedicated
    Date: 16 October 1926
    Attended by: Former Service Personnel
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
11359

Support IWM

Donate with Just Giving

Any gift we receive makes a vital contribution to our ongoing work, from conserving our collection to supporting our public programme.

Make a Donation
Current location

Facing Horse Guards Parade.
St James Park
69 Horse Guards Road
St James
City Of Westminster
Greater London
SW1A 2AD
England

OS Grid Ref: TQ 29919 80057
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
FIVE LIFE SIZED BRONZE SOLDIERS REPRESENTING EACH OF THE GUARDS REGIMENTS (Grenadier Guards, Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Guards and Coldstream Guards), STANDING EASY AGAINST STONE CENOTAPH ON PODIUM AND THREE STEPPED PLINTH. BRONZE RELIEF PANELS ARE MOUNTED ON SIDES OF THE CENOTAPH AND DEPICT REPRESENTATIVE EQUIPMENT. STONE RELIEF AT THE BACK DEPICTS ARTILLERY IN ACTION. SMALL INCISED CROSS AT CENTRE TOP. BADGES OF THE GUARDS REGIMENTS BELOW THE FIGURES.
Inscription
TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN 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 OF 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/ ARMY MEDICAL CORPS AND OTHER/ UNITS WHO WHILE SERVING WITH/ THE GUARDS DIVISION IN FRANCE &/ BELGIUM 1915 - 1918 FELL WITH THEM IN/ THE FIGHT FOR THE WORLD'S FREEDOM (Below figures): 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 REVERSE: (List of battle honours) SIDES: (List of individual units)
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • 20th Century Wars (1900-1999)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Regimental Memorials
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Cenotaph
    Measurements: height 38FT 6"
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Relief
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Figures
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • The Guards Memorial
  • Grade I
  • 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
'Honourable scars' caused by WW2 air raids are visible.
Costs

Memorial: c£22,000

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN: BRITISH FIRST WORLD WAR MEMORIALS by BOORMAN, DEREK pp.34-36 Source: Image Library NIWM Published:SESSIONS 1988 YORK
  • Apollo Vol. cxxvii No.15 (Jan 1988) pp.22-26 'Gilbert Ledward and the Guards' Division Memorial' by Peyton Skipwith.
  • The Sculpture of Gilbert Ledward by Catherine Moriarty pp.47-9, 52-5, 57, 106 Published:The Henry Moore Foundation 2003
  • Public Sculpture of Britain Vol.14: 'Historic Westminster vol.1' by Philip Ward-Jackson (2011) pp.74-77 Detailed description and history.
  • LONDON'S OPEN AIR STATUARY by GLEICHEN pp.45-6. Source: Image Library Published:LONGMAN'S, GREEN & CO 1928 LONDON
  • LONDON STATUES: A GUIDE TO LONDONS OUTDOOR STATUES AND SCULPTURE by BYRON, A pp.357-8. Source: Image Library NIWM Published:CONSTABLE 1981 LONDON Gen Higginson was a centenarian Grenadier. Bomb damage to three of the figures has been repaired.
  • The Times 18 Oct. 1926 p.14 Report of unveiling. Dedication was performed by the senior chaplain of the Division when it was first formed in France, the Rev. H J Fleming, and the Benediction was given by the Chaplain-General to the Forces.
  • Listing Description ID 210225
  • A CENTURY OF STATUES. THE HISTORY OF THE MORRIS SINGER FOUNDRY by JAMES, DUNCAN pp. 35,47 plate 68. Source: Image Library NIWM Published:THE MORRIS SINGER FOUNDRY LTD 1984 BASINGSTOKE
  • Roll of Honour www.roll-of-honour.com/London/GuardsmemorialHorseGuardParade.html
  • WAR MEMORIALS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT by BORG, ALAN pp. 80,90, plates 77a and 77b Source: Image Library NIWM Published:LEO COOPER 1991 LONDON
  • Carter Postcard Collection

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.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-11359

For queries, please contact [email protected].