Memorial details

Memorial type
Composite
District
Birmingham
Town
Birmingham
County
West Midlands
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Ceremony
  • Foundation Stone
    Date: 1923
    Attended by: HRH Prince of Wales KG
  • Unveiled
    Date: 4 July 1925
    Attended by: Lt Col Prince Arthur of Connaught KG, KT, GCMG,GCVO, CB
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2049

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Current location

Hall of Memory
Broad Street
Birmingham
Birmingham
West Midlands
B1 2DR
England

OS Grid Ref: SP 06299 86774
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
An octagonal Hall of Classical design with a domed roof. On each of the four alternate sides are side chapels and a portico and against the remaining walls are granite pedestals on which are four allegorical figures representing the services. The figures represent: The Navy: Bare-chested sailor crouches and holds a coil of rope in one hand and the wheel of a ship in the other The Army: Bare-chested soldier crouches and rests a tin helmet on his left leg and rests his right hand on the barrel of a machine gun The Air Force: Bare-chested figure crouches and holds blade and aerlions of an aircraft in his left hand and another item in the other Women's Service: Woman crouches down whilst holding a wreath in her left hand with arm out stretched Inside the Hall are three relief panels. Each with an incised inscription at the base: Panel One: A wife says goodbye to her husband as he joins other civilians to march off to the war Panel Two: Soldiers fighting in the trenches, wounded comrades slump out of line Panel Three: The aftermath of war with wounded soldiers returning home Books of Remembrance recording the names of casualties are contained within a glass case with a dedicatory inscription on a marble tablet.
Inscription
INTERIOR RELIEFS: (PANEL ONE): OF THE 150,000 WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO ARMS / 12,320 FELL: 35,000 CAME HOME DISABLED (PANEL TWO): AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN / THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM (PANEL THREE): SEE TO IT THAT THEY SHALL NOT HAVE / SUFFERED AND DIED IN VAIN (OUTSIDE, FOUNDATION PLAQUE): 1914 - 1918. / TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF THE / HEROIC DEAD / THIS STONE WAS LAID BY / H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES K.G. / JUNE 12TH 1923. INSCRIPTION UNDER ROLLS OF HONOUR: INSCRIBED ON THESE ROLLS OF HONOUR / ARE THE NAMES OF / THE CITIZENS OF BIRMINGHAM / WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / IN THE WORLD WARS 1914 - 1918 AND 1939 - 1945 INTERNAL PLAQUE: THIS BUILDING IS / ERECTED TO THE / GLORY OF GOD / & IN MEMORY OF / THE MEN & WOMEN / OF THIS CITY WHO / FELL IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1918 / OPENED BY HRH / PRINCE ARTHUR OF / CONNAUGHT KG / JUNE 12TH 1923 WW1 centenary tablet: This stone was unveiled by/ the Lord Mayor of Birmingham/ Councillor Yvonne Mosquito/ on 11 November 2018/ To commemorate the centenary of/ the end of the First World War/ 1914 - 1918/ 'Their name liveth for evermore' WW2 citizens of Birmingham plaque: TO THE/ IMMORTAL MEMORY OF THE/ CITIZENS OF BIRMINGHAM/ WHO WERE KILLED IN THE/ 1939 - 1945 WAR
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 11000
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 11000
    Exact count: no
    Information shown: Surname; forename
    Order of information: Surname
Components
  • Building
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Figures
    Measurements: height 2140MM, width 1430MM
    Materials: Bronze
  • Plinth
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite - Cornish
  • Tablets
    Measurements: height 1550MM, width 2230MM
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Book
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Paper
Listing information
  • Hall of Memory
  • 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
Costs

Memorial: £60,000

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Reference
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • War Memorials Trust Bulleton 72-February 2017-page 11
  • ID 468884
  • The Times 6 July 1925 p.11
  • IWM library holds a copy
  • WELLINGTON JOURNAL & SHREWSBURY NEWS by N/A P9, Col 7, 26 August 1922 Source: Media Library Published:N/A WELLINGTON, SHROPSHIRE
  • Other website www.hallofmemory.co.uk/ . Accessed 30 March 2021
  • Public Sculpture of Britain Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield (1998) pp.21-24

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-2049

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