Figure of Victory atop Exeter War Memorial

Exeter War Memorial, also known as The Northernhay War Memorial is a war memorial in

Northernhay Gardens Northernhay Gardens are located in Exeter, Devon, England, on the northern side of Rougemont Castle. They are the oldest public open space in England, being originally laid out in 1612 as a pleasure walk for Exeter residents. The gardens are G ...

in the city of

Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...

, Devon. Designed by John Angel, it was erected by public subscription in 1923 and cost over £6,000.

History

At the time, John Angel was spending four years as an assistant to Sir George Frampton, and his influence is apparent in the allegorical style. The figure of "Peace" (also known as ''Victory'' .) was exhibited by Angel at The Royal Academy in 1922, being exhibited in the courtyard of

Burlington House Burlington House is a building on Piccadilly in Mayfair, London. It was originally a private Neo-Palladian mansion owned by the Earls of Burlington and was expanded in the mid-19th century after being purchased by the British government. Toda ...

, as were other studies of this and the Bridgewater War Memorial on several occasions. Quarried from Blackingstone Quarry, near Moretonhampstead, and erected by Messrs. Easton & Son of Exeter, it is a total of high, with a high pedestal. The figure representing Victory, tall, is said to hold "aloft a spray of laurels in token of gratitude to Heaven. Boldly modelled, and with considerable action, this figure, standing on a dragon, forms an interesting silhouette from all sides." On each of the four arms of the cross is a bronze figure representing the war, including a soldier, a sailor on the hull of a ship, a prisoner of war, and a

V.A.D. The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The most important periods of operation for these units we ...

nurse in uniform holding a bandage. The figures would each be in height if they were standing. The dedication ceremony for the memorial was celebrated by the Bishop of Crediton

Robert Trefusis Robert Edward Trefusis (24 January 18439 July 1930) was the first suffragan Bishop of Crediton from 1897 to 1930. Origins Trefusis was born in Bideford in 1843, the second son of George Trefusis (1793–1849), a younger son of Robert Trefusis, 1 ...

. It was unveiled by the Right Honourable

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

David Beatty. Ceremonies were concluded by a trumpeter on Athelstan's Tower who played

The Last Post The "Last Post" is either an A or a B♭ bugle call, primarily within British infantry and Australian infantry regiments, or a D or an E♭ cavalry trumpet call in British cavalry and Royal Regiment of Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and R ...

. During World War II a tall brick wall was built around the memorial, leaving just the figure on top visible, to protect it against possible bomb damage. After the war additional bronze plaques were added on the base to honour the soldiers killed in that conflict. The memorial is one of two civic memorials in Exeter, the other being the Devon County War Memorial by Sir Edwin Lutyens, in the form a simple cross outside

Exeter Cathedral Exeter Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon, in South West England. The present building was complete by about 140 ...

. The two memorials were the responsibility of separate committees; the city and county memorial committees conspicuously failed to work together. According to Sir James Owen, chairman of the Exeter City War Memorial Committee, the city offered a joint committee but the county "slammed the door in our face", while

Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue (16 April 1854 – 29 October 1932), styled Viscount Ebrington from 1861 to 1905, was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1881 until 1892 and later in the House of Lords havin ...

, chairman of the Devon County War Memorial Committee, accused the city of proceeding with its own project without any discussion with the county.

21st century events

In November 2010, following the death of Harry Patch, the last English survivor of World War I trench warfare, a ceremony was held at the memorial. Devon historian Dr. Todd Gray noted that with his death, the time for remembrance had arrived: Now ". . . we are at that point. . . . The city's Great War memorial was created so that future generations would know about the sacrifices men made on their behalf. In the years that have followed this monument and all others have evolved into memorials for all war and I would encourage any Exonian who has a few moments to show their respect." As Dr. Gray observed, this is one of hundreds of World War I memorials scattered around Devon. He believes that even though they are nearly a century old, they are relevant today, as they are community centers for sharing and grief. On 10 September 2012, a new memorial to honour those from Exeter who gave their lives since World War II was dedicated. It is said to be a "complement" to the 1923 memorial. The dedication was hosted by

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

Sir

Stuart Peach Air Chief Marshal Stuart William Peach, Baron Peach, (born 22 February 1956) is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer. After training as a navigator, Peach commanded IX (Bomber) Squadron and then became Deputy Station Commander RAF Bruggen. ...

. The memorial will honour ten Exeter servicemen who "lost their lives in conflicts overseas", including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Northern Ireland. Family members of the soldiers were consulted as to its form. Attendees included the Lord Mayor Councillor Rob Newby, the

Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Exeter is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. Since 30 April 2014 the ordinary has been Robert Atwell.

the Rt. Rev.

Michael Langrish Michael Laurence Langrish (born 1 July 1946) is a retired English Anglican bishop. He was Bishop of Exeter from 2000 to 2013. Early life and education Langrish was born in Southampton, Hampshire, the son of Douglas Frank Langrish and Brenda Flor ...

, and battalion and regimental representatives from the units in which the fallen had served. Mayor Newby stated, "As a city, we already honour our dead from the two Great Wars, and it is fitting that we honour those who have fallen since 1945. This memorial allows us to do just that." The polished granite tablet has a remembrance exhortation and lists ten names. The

Exeter City Council Exeter City Council is the council and local government of the city of Exeter, Devon. History Proposed unitary authority status The government proposed that the city should become an independent unitary authority within Devon, much like neighb ...

commissioned it upon the suggestion of Kirianne Curley, widow of one of the honoured fallen. It will continue to be the site of local services on Remembrance Sunday. Like the original dedication ceremony, this too concluded with a playing of ''The Last Post''. In September 2014, Historic England designated the original memorial as a Grade II* listed building. File:Exeter War Memorial, Northernhay Gardens (17).jpg, Detail of the VAD nurse File:Exeter War Memorial, Northernhay Gardens (21).jpg, Detail of the sailor File:Exeter War Memorial, Northernhay Gardens (24).jpg, Detail of the soldier File:Exeter War Memorial, Northernhay Gardens (13).jpg, Detail of the prisoner of war File:Angel at the Exeter War Memorial.jpg, John Angel at his memorial in the 1950s File:Exeter City War Memorial, Northernhay Gardens in springtime.jpg, The memorial in its setting in Rougemont gardens

References

External links

* {{cite web , url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/story/2012-09-10/exeter-memorial-unveiled/ , title=Exeter War Memorial Unveiled , date=10 September 2012 , accessdate=10 September 2012 , format=video , publisher=

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

Buildings and structures in Exeter Monuments and memorials in Devon Grade II* listed buildings in Devon Grade II* listed monuments and memorials Buildings and structures completed in 1923 British military memorials and cemeteries Bronze sculptures in the United Kingdom World War I memorials in England World War II memorials in England Victory monuments Tourist attractions in Exeter

History

21st century events

See also

References

External links