Plymouth, Devonport War Memorial (The Great War)

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

DEVONPORT WAR MEMORIAL

The Devonport War Memorial was unveiled by Field Marshall the Right Honourable the Lord Methuen GCB, SCMG, GCVO, on the afternoon of Wednesday March 14th 1923, when two seaplanes from Lee-on-Solent provided a fly-past.

It was designed by a Mr C Cheverton FSA and built by Mr J B Hunt of St John's Road, Plymouth. It is in the form of a Cornish granite Gothic Cross, 33ft high, capped with an ornamental lantern and cross. In front of the shaft is the figure of Victory in white marble while the bronze panel contains the Borough arms in relief.

Some 2,000 men and women from the Town gave their lives during the War.

Devonport War Memorial

At the rear is a bronze panel bearing the emblems of the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force with the inscription: ~To the immortal memory of the citizens of Devonport who fell in the Great War. ~

It is interesting to record that Devonport declined to join with its neighbour, Plymouth, for a joint war memorial. Jealous of its own identity, even after the amalgamation, it not only provided its own memorial but also insisted that the date of the unveiling should not be the same as for the Plymouth memorial.

The committee responsible for the scheme was led by Lord St Levan. The vice-chairman was Mr G H Smith, there were no fewer than three honorary joint secretaries, Messrs W H Mountstephen, H Swiss, and Clifford Tozer (all well-known Devonport businessmen), and two honorary joint treasurers, Messrs E Nicholls and H C Salway.

Also present at the unveiling ceremony was the Mayor of Plymouth, Mr Solomon Stephens and detachments representing the Army, the Royal Navy, the Air Force, the British Legion, the Post Office, the tramways, the Police (led by their Chief Constable, Mr H H Sanders), and the nursing profession. The massed bands of the Royal Navy and Devon Regiment provided the music.

One wonders if they realised the significance of Lord St Levan's remarks about the memorial: 'It will also serve to point out the path of duty to those who come afterwards should they receive a call similar to that which our brothers and sisters so nobly responded'. Sixteen years later that is precisely what happened.