The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial
The Plymouth Naval Memorial

© the copyright holders. Image credit: Colin White / Art UK

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Notes

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The memorial takes the form of a massive stone obelisk, with four ships' prows projecting from the apex, inspired by the rostral columns erected to celebrate Roman naval victories. The obelisk rises from a stepped square base with corner projections, each projection supporting a lion couchant. Low down on each side of the obelisk is the naval badge of an anchor within a laurel wreath, surmounted by a naval crown. The apex of the obelisk is stepped inwards; above the branching ships' prows, are bronze figures representing the four winds, who bear a large copper sphere representing the earth. The plaques to the north, east, and west faces commemorate actions with enemy land forces, single ship actions, and general actions at sea (including Jutland); the plaques contain images of naval action in low relief. Around the base are plaques carrying the names of the dead; the names are arranged by the year of death, and within each year, by service and rank.

Title

The Plymouth Naval Memorial

Date

1924

Medium

Portland stone ashlar, copper & bronze

Accession number

PL1_CW_S006

Acquisition method

commissioned by the Imperial War Graves Commission

Work type

War memorial

Owner

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Custodian

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Work status

extant

Listing status

Grade I (England and Wales)

Unveiling date

July 1924

Listing date

01/05/75

Access

at all times

Inscription description

between the lions are bronze plaques, that to the south bears the inscription: IN HONOUR OF THE NAVY / AND TO THE ABIDING MEMORY / OF THESE RANKS AND / RATINGS OF THIS PORT WHO LAID DOWN THEIR / LIVES IN THE DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE AND / HAVE NO OTHER GRAVE THAN THE SEA / AND THEIR COMRADES OF AUSTRALIA / SOUTH AFRICA NEWFOUNDLAND INDIA PAKISTAN / CEYLON FIJI GOLD COAST HONG KONG KENYA / MALAYA NIGERIA SIERRA LEONE AND BURMA / WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE RECORDED On the Second Worlds War extension, between the the two statues of soldiers is a stone plaque with a naval crown and the inscription: 1914-1918 1939-1945 / ALL THESE WERE HONOURED IN THEIR GENERATIONS / AND WERE THE GLORY OF THEIR TIMES

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Located at

Hoe Promenade, Plymouth

PL1 2PU