Memorial details

Memorial type
Obelisk
District
Oxford
Town
Oxford
County
Oxfordshire
Country
England
Commemoration
Colonial India, 19th Century Wars (1800-1899)
Maker
Inigo Thomas (Architect)
Franklins (Builder)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 6 July 1900
    Attended by: Local Clergy/Dignitaries
  • Dedicated
    Date: 6 July 1900
    Attended by: Local Clergy/Dignitaries
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
31940

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Current location

Bonn Square
Oxford
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 1QF
England

OS Grid Ref: SP 51169 06155
Denomination: Undefined

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Description
Obelisk sets on a pedestal, plinth and four stepped base. Pedestal bears a carved wreath with the number '52', referring the old number of the Battalion as a Regiment of the Line. Plinth bears carved inscription and names.
Inscription
Plinth (6 o'clock): THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED/ BY THE OFFICERS, NON-COM-/ MISSIONED OFFICERS & MEN/ OF THE SECOND BATTALION/ OXFORDSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY./ IN MEMORY OF THEIR COM-RADES WHO DIED BETWEEN/ THE 15TH OF AUGUST 1897 AND/ 4TH OF NOVEMBER 1898 Plinth (3, 9, and 12 o'clock): (Names)
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • Colonial India
    Total names on memorial: 61
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 61
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,rank
    Order of information: rank
  • 19th Century Wars (1800-1899)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,rank,place of death,manner of death
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Obelisk
    Measurements: height 25FT
    Materials: Stone - Bath
Listing information
Condition
History
2009: Renovations completed. Some lettering recorded as missing from memorial. 16 March: report of graffiti in ink on the west side of the memorial. 2006: Plan to redevelop the area surrounding the memorial. Memorial will be cleaned and a step added, as surrounding paving will be lowered.
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Other
Reference
  • Oxfordshire Light Infantry Regimental Chronicle 307-316 / 1900 Report of unveiling from Oxford Mail 7 July 1900.
  • Local Publication/Booklet pp. xxv-xxvii, liii. 'The Risings on the North-West Frontier' (Allalabad, 1898). Composition of the Tirah Field Force, and casualties.
  • Local Publication/Booklet Ppp.82-83. Philip Booth: ' The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (London, 1971). OLI ordered from the Punjab to join Tirajh Expedition. Later Sgt Maj. Dempsey was wounded, received DCM and later died in hospital.
  • The Times 3 Jan. 1898 p.3;16 Mar. 1898 p.5 Reports of Oxfordshire Light Infantry in Tirah.
  • The Times 22 Nov. 1897 p.5; 24 Nov. 1897 p.6;17 Dec. 1897 p.12; 20 Dec. 1897 p.10; 20 Jan. 1898 p.7 Reports of the murder of Maj Thruston, Mr N A Wilson and Mr Scott by Sudanese mutineers in Uganda, and progress of the mutiny.
  • Other website www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/war/other_wars/tirah_campaign.html

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-31940

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