BIRMINGHAM BOER WAR MEMORIAL

Boer War - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2007

The Boer War Soldiers Memorial for Birmingham was unveiled 23rd June 1906 in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham by Lieutenant-general Sir Ian Hamilton. It stands at the northern end of the park near Edgbaston Road. The sculptor was Albert Toft. There are 521 name sinscribed which have still to be transcribed. The memorial takes the form of a red granite base surmounted by tapering pedestal and a sculpture of a female figure, gun carriage and two soldiers. There is a bronze bas-relief on the front face and name panels on the other three faces of the pedestal. The figures are of two soldiers in heroic pose who flank a gun carriage in the centre. Above them stands a female figure representing peace. On her left arm she supports a shield bearing the city arms and an olive branch. In her right hand she once held a wreath but this is now missing. On the front of the pedestal the relief shows two classical female figures representing grief and sympathy, holding wreaths and supporting a shield with an inscription.

From an old postcard

TO
THE GLORIOUS MEMORY
OF THE
SONS OF BIRMINGHAM
WHO FELL IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR 1899 - 1902
AND TO PERPETUATE
THE EXAMPLE OF ALL WHO
SERVED IN THE WAR
THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED
BY THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS

No transcription available at present

Last updated 22 January, 2008