Memorial details

Memorial type
Sculpture
District
Shrewsbury And Atcham
Town
Shrewsbury
County
Shropshire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 12 June 1993
    Attended by: Local Clergy/Dignitaries
  • Dedicated
    Date: 12 June 1993
    Attended by: Bishop Suffragan of Shrewsbury
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
13884

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Current location

Grounds of Shrewsbury Abbey
25
Shrewsbury Abbey
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury And Atcham
Shropshire
SY2 6BS
England

OS Grid Ref: SJ 49854 12477
Denomination: Church of England

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Description
Abstract concept sculpture entitled 'Symmetry' representing pontoon bridges over the sambre canal, where Wilfred Owen was killed. The sculpture expresses the significance of the poet as bridge builder and communicator, and the stark shape also represents the structure of the trenches lined with duckboards. Symmetries in the design represent symmetries in Owen's poem strange meeting, from which the inscription is taken. Deliberate dual function as a bench represents another way of spanning the uncertain ground, a safe haven. The sculpture is mounted on a circular york stone base. There are plaques set within the base with narratives.
Inscription
I AM THE ENEMY YOU KILLED MY FRIEND/ WILFRED OWEN POET 18 3 1893 - 4 11 1918 LINE 40 OF POEM/ STRANGE MEETING/ 1918 SYMMETRY/ PAUL DE MONCHAX/ 1993 OWEN WAS BORN IN OSWESTRY/ LIVED IN SHREWSBURY FROM/ 1907 AND DIED NEAR ORS/ HE WAS AWARDED THE MC OWEN WAS KILLED IN ACTION/ MAKING A PONTOON BRIDGE/ ACROSS THE SAMBRE CANAL A/ WEEK BEFORE THE ARMISTICE
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Owen, Wilfred
See details
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, date of birth, date of death, occupation, additional
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Sculpture
    Measurements: depth 3200mm, height 470mm, width 2350mm
    Materials: Granite
  • Base
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - York
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Undefined
Listing information
Condition
Costs

Memorial: £17600

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Reference
  • Public Monuments and Sculpture Association SAshSRg1054

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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© WMR-13884

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