Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial

Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial
United Kingdom

The war memorial on Grange Hill, West Kirby
For the men and women of West Kirby and Hoylake
who died in World Wars I and II
Unveiled 16 December 1922
Location 53°22′31″N 3°10′31″W / 53.375327°N 3.175392°W / 53.375327; -3.175392Coordinates: 53°22′31″N 3°10′31″W / 53.375327°N 3.175392°W / 53.375327; -3.175392
near West Kirby, Merseyside
Designed by Charles Sargeant Jagger

The Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial is a 14.5-metre-high, granite four-sided obelisk which stands on Grange Hill, West Kirby, Merseyside. It was designed by British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885–1934), who also designed the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London. It commemorates the men and women of West Kirby and Hoylake who gave their lives in World Wars I and II.

On two sides of the obelisk stand bronze figures symbolising war and peace. On the west face is a figure of a robed woman holding a baby, a wreath of poppies and broken manacles. On the east face stands a British infantry soldier dressed for winter and standing guard with standard issue .303 rifle, bayonet fixed, a gas mask, water bottle, putties and his helmet pushed off the back of his head, and a German helmet at his feet .[1]

Inscriptions around the base read:[1]

“ AT THE CALL OF KING AND COUNTRY THEY LEFT ALL THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM, ENDURED HARDNESS, FACED DANGER AND FINALLY PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF MEN BY THE PATH OF DUTY AND SELF SACRIFICE, GIVING UP THEIR OWN LIVES THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM. LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT/THAT THEIR NAMES BE NOT FORGOTTEN. ”
— West face
“ IN GRATITUDE TO GOD AND TO THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM THESE PARTS WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–1919 – 1939–1945. THEY WERE A WALL UNTO US BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY. ”
— East face

The memorial was unveiled on 16 December 1922 by the Earl of Birkenhead with 5,000 people in attendance.[2] The Memorial is in the care of Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.

A recasting of the soldier figure now forms part of the "Drivers and Wipers" Memorial at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia.[3]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial.

References

  1. 1 2 "War Memorial (Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial)". Public Monument and Sculpture Association. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  2. ↑ "War Memorial Beacon". Sheffield Independent. 18 December 1922. p. 1.
  3. ↑ "The Driver and Wipers Memorial" (PDF). Shrine of Remembrance Education Program. Retrieved 2007-07-09.


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