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Memorial details

Memorial type
Sculptured / Cast group
District
Colchester
Town
Colchester
County
Essex
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Post-1945 war or conflict
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 24 May 1923
    Attended by: FIELD MARSHAL SIR WILLIAM R ROBERTSON BART GCB GCMG KCVO DSO
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2107

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Current location

Castle entrance
Colchester Castle
High Street
Colchester
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1TH
England

OS Grid Ref: TL 99898 25218
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Three-stepped base surmounted by tall stone pedestal and bronze figure of winged victory on orb holding inverted sword and laurel wreath. Pedestal flanked on 3 and 9 o'clock sides by figures of St George standing on dragon and Peace holding a dove. Two bronze plaques bearing First World War inscription in relief mounted on 6 o'clock face, and bronze plaque with Second World War inscription in relief on 12 o'clock face. Additional plaque for post-1945 casualties added in 2008, mounted above Second World War plaque. Terracotta casket with First World War names and ephemera from the war buried within foundation of monument. To the north, are the decorative metal park gates, railings and stone piers which all form part of the original design and form a significant group with the memorial. Adjacent to the park gates are two metal benches , enamelled in black and red, commemorating the 1914-1918 armistice anniversary . The backs of the benches are pierced with outline figures in uniform , horses , poppies and doves .
Inscription
6 o'clock face, upper plaque: TO THE / GLORIOUS / MEMORY /OF THE MEN / OF / COLCHESTER / WHO FELL IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 18 / THEY STROVE FOR PEACE / THEY SERVED / FOR FREEDOM / THEY DIED TO LIVE TO THE / HONOUR / OF THE / MEN & WOMEN / OF / COLCHESTER / WHO STOOD FOR / KING & COVNTRY / & BEARING ARMS / OR BY THEIR WORK / HELPED TO WIN / THE WAR / 1914-18 6 o'clock face, lower plaque: THE NAMES OF 1263 MEN OF COLCHESTER/ HERE COMMEMORATED ARE INSCRIBED/ ON VELLUM AND DISPLAYED INSIDE THE/ PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE AT THE TOWN HALL 12 o'clock face, upper plaque: TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM COLCHESTER / KILLED ON DUTY OR AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST ACTION / SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR 12 o'clock face, lower plaque: AND TO THE HONOUR ALSO/ OF THOSE WHO WORKED, SERVED/ AND DIED IN THE FURTHER WAR OF/ 1939 - 1945
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
  • Post-1945 war or conflict
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Figure
    Measurements: height c11ft
    Materials: Bronze
  • Steps
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Pedestal
    Measurements: height c16ft
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Casket / Box
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Terracotta
  • Plaque
    Measurements: height c6ft
    Materials: Unknown, Bronze
Listing information
  • Colchester War Memorial (including lamp columns, walls, gates, piers, railings and posts)
  • 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
2008: Additional plaque for post-1945 casualties added. 2006: Listed Grade II with English Heritage. 1994: Staining of stone pedestal and cracks to figures reported. 1992: Graffiti removed from memorial.
Costs

Comments: The purchase of Colchester Castle and the cost of clearing the entrance area as a site for the memorial was covered by a donation of £10,000 from Lord and Lady Cowdray. Lord and Lady Cowdray offered another £10,000 to assist the town in purchasing the Holly Trees Estate, which became a park adjacent to the memorial. The terracotta casket, manufactured by Doulton and Co. Ltd., was donated by Mr W H Shephard of 93-94 High Street, Colchester.

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Colchester Borough Council
Reference

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-2107

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