The memorial is made from Portland stone and is a form of cenotaph design. It erected in 1926 dedicated to the five Foot Guards Regiments of the Great War. The bronze figures were cast from the guns taken from the Germans during the Great War (World War 1). The Guardsmen depicted are Sergeant R. Bradshaw, M.M., Grenadier Guards, Lance Corporal J. S. Richardson Coldstream Guards, Guardsman J. McDonald Scots Guards, Simon McCarthy (although the legs are Lance Sergeant W. J. Kidd as Simon was extremely impatient and whilst this statue was being made he walked off and the moulders had to get someone else in the finish off the statue), Irish Guards and Guardsman A. Comley, Welsh Guards. The memorial was unveiled on 16th October 1926 by the Duke of Connaught.

Photographs Copyright © Martin Edwards 2003

To the Glory of God. And in the memory of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Guardsmen of His Majesty's Regiments of Foot Guards who gave their lives for their King and Country during the Great War 1914-1918 and of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers , Men of the Household Cavalry, Royal Regiment of Artillery Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps and other Units while serving the Guard's Division in France and Belgium 1915-1918, fell with them in the fight for the World's Freedom.

This Memorial also Commemorates All Those Members of the Household Division who died in the Second World War and in the Service of their Country since 1918.

From an old postcard, the caption reads "The largest assembly and military reunion ever known at a war memorial dedication. Stirring scenes at the unveiling of the famous Guards Division War Memorial on Horse Guards Parade, London, October 16th, by HRH The Duke of Connaught, before thousands of spectators, including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and other members of royalty. An impressive scene was the march past, at the salute, of 15,000 Guardsmen, past and present members, mobilised once again from every corner of the British Isles, to pay homage to their dead warriors. Our picture shows HRH the Prince of Wales leading the Welsh Guards, (of which Regiment he is Colonel-in-Chief) in the march past after the unveiling ceremony".

Last updated 4 January, 2009