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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Commonwealth Gates

    Commonwealth Gates, Constitution Hill

    Source: Copyright Brian Mawdsley

    1/4

    Current Location

    At the Hyde Park corner end of Constitution Hill, Commonwealth Gates, Constitution Hill, Westminster, City Of Westminster, Greater London, W1J 7NU, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TQ 28567 79810

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

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    This record shows everything IWM currently knows about this memorial. We are continually updating our records.

    © WMR-47929

    To share information or photographs, contact us.

    Type of Memorial
    Composite
    WMR Reference Number
    47929
    Description
    Four stone gate pillars, two on each side of the road road, with a bronze urn on top of each of them. It commemorates soldiers from Asia, Africa and the West Indies who volunteered to serve in the two World Wars alongside the British. Individual country names are inscribed on the sides of the gate pillars. On north side of the road there is a domed pavilion (or chattri). Names of Victoria Cross and George Cross winners are inscribed within the domed roof.
    Inscription
    GATE PILLARS: INDIA PAKISTAN BANGLADESH SRI LANKA AFRICA CARIBBEAN KINGDOM OF NEPAL OUR FUTURE IS GREATER THAN OUR PAST - - Ceiling of pavilion: (NAMES)
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    23
    Information shown
    decoration, initals, surname
    Order of names
    decoration
    Additional Information
    Not all names visible on the image so partial transcription
    War
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Number Commemorated
    18
    Information shown
    decoration, initialsm surname
    Order of names
    decoration
    Additional Information
    Not all names visible on the image so partial transcription
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    70
    Information shown
    surname,forename
    Additional Information
    Details of name list not known/partially known, Total is combined number for multiple wars listed together on the memorial,Died and returned not differentiated on the memorial
    Maker(s)
    • Liam O'Connor, Architect

    • Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, Builder

    • CWO Ltd, Mason

    Costs
    C £2.8 million
    Sponsor Type
    public
    Sponsored By
    National Lottery grant from the Millennium Commission and tthe generous support of trusts , foundations and members of the public
    Maintenance History
    Unknown

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    6 November 2002

    HM Queen Elizabeth II

    Custodian
    The Memorial Gates Trust

    Components

    Gate posts

    Height: 5400mm


    Made from: Stone - Portland


    Condition: Good


    Memorial

    Made from: Stone


    Condition: Good


    Detail

    Made from: Bronze


    Condition: Good


    Report a Concern

    War Memorials Trust Reference Number
    77089

    To report a concern about the condition of this memorial, visit War Memorial Trust.

    Help update these details if the condition is wrongWar Memorials Register Logo
    • Kennedy, Dominic, 'Gates to honour colonial war dead', The Times, Wednesday 24 February 1999, p. 3.
    • Anonymous, 'Tax on memorial', The Times, 2 June 2001.
    • Morrison, Richard, 'The story of how this memorial was built has been a soap opera of controversies, confrontations and petty objections', The Times, Thursday 30 May 2002, p. 7.
    • Anonymous, 'Gates honour Asian and Caribbean troops', The Times, Friday 25 July 2003.
    • Anonymous, 'Memorial Gates', The Gallipolian, Winter 2000, p. 55.
    • Ezard, John, 'Memorial for black servicemen', The Guardian, 25 February 1999.
    • Anonymous, 'Memorial Inaugurated', Navy News, November, 2002.
    • Norton-Taylor, Richard, 'Lest We Forget: Overseas Soldiers Remembered', The Guardian, 10 October 2002, p. 15.
    • McVeigh, Tracy, 'Indian veterans wounded by "racist" halt to parade', The Observer, 12 March 2000, p. 14.
    • Usmani, Saleem, ' War Crime, Eastern Eye, n.d.
    • Roy, Amit, 'Heritage chief attacks memorial gates', Daily Telegraph, Thursday 30 March 2000, p. 16.
    • Ezard, John, 'Gates a tribute to black and Asian heroes', Daily Telegraph, 7 November 2002.
    • Reynolds, Nigel, 'Memorial at last for the Empire troops who fought in world wars', Daily Telegraph, Thursday 25 February 1999.
    • Memorial Gates Trust: http://www.mgtrust.org/
    • Adamson, Colin, 'Constitution Hill gates plan scrapped', This Is London, 4 December 2000.
    • Moore, Rowan, 'Prince Charles in memorial row', This Is London, 29 March 2000.
    • Blundell, Nigel, 'The Unforgotten', Saga Magazine, March 2001, pp. 107-113.
    • Salman, Saba, 'Memorial Gates to Honour the "Forgotten" Dead', Evening Standard, Friday 15 January 1999, p. 11.
    • Moore, Rowan, 'A monumental problem: Two new war memorials are to be built at Hyde Park Corner. Already their designs are causing controversy', Evening Standard, 14 December 1999, p. 27.
    • Anonymous, 'Monumental error', Evening Standard, Thursday 30 March 2000, p. 13.
    • Vadgama, Kusoom, 'India deserves a worthier tribute', Evening Standard, Letters, Wednesday 5 April 2000, p. 28.
    • Evans, Ian, 'Gate money "should go to old soldiers"', Evening Standard, Monday 10 April 2000, p. 17.
    • Anonymous, 'Dignified memorial', Evening Standard, 5 December 2000, p. 13.
    • Freeman, Colin, 'Palace park road to be dug up yet again', Evening Standard, Thursday 18 October 2001, p. 18.