Site Navigation

 Home
 The Tower Hill Site
 WW2 Ships A-F
 WW2 Ships G-L
 WW2 Ships M-R
 WW2 Ships S-Z
 WW2 Additional Entries  WW2 Errors/Omissions
 WW2 Panel Index
 WW1 Memorial
 Falklands Memorial  Executions Memorial
 Copyright
 External References
 Benjidog Home Page

To see more nautical resources click on:

BENJIDOG HOME PAGE


The First World War Memorial



Image 1 shows a view of the memorial from the West and was taken in July 2011.

WW1 Memorial

Introduction

This memorial in Trinity House Gardens was one of the major WW1 memorials designed by Sir Edwin Lanseer Lutyens (1869-1944) who also designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and the Thiepval Memorial to the "Missing of the Somme".


Design

The memorial takes the form of a vaulted hall with plates with the names of members of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets whose lives were lost in the war and who have 'no grave but the sea'. The names of the dead are arranged alphabetically under their ships with the name of the Master or Skipper (if it appears) first in each case. They are enscribed on bronze panels covering the piers that support the roof. No rank or rating other than Master or Skipper is indicated.

The memorial commemorates 11,919 names and bears the following Dedication:

1914-1918

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE HONOUR OF

TWELVE THOUSAND OF THE MERCHANT NAVY AND FISHING FLEETS

WHO HAVE NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA


Unveiling

The monument was begun in 1927 and unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Mary on 12 December 1928.

Image 2 is a cutting from The Times on 12 December 1928 announcing the ceremony to unveil the memorial.

WW1 Memorial

Image 3 is a cutting from The Times on 13 December 1928 reporting the unveiling.

WW1 Memorial WW1 Memorial WW1 Memorial

WW1 Memorial

Views of the Memorial

Image 4 was taken from the WW2 memorial area looking towards the WW1 memorial. The row of plates immediately behind the poppy wreaths are part of the WW2 Memorial. It was taken on 23 November 2010 - just over a week after the annual Armistice Day commemoration - hence the many poppy wreaths visible.

WW1 Memorial

Images 5 and 6 are further views of the memorial taken in July 2011.

WW1 Memorial
WW1 Memorial

Image Credits

  1. Images #2 and #3 by courtesy The Times Archive
  2. Images #1 and #4-6 by the Site Owner