Carter Postcard Collection

Lichfield Mercury - Friday 26 December 1919 (page 2): printed a lengthy report, headed "LICHFIELD WAR MEMORIAL. GENERAL SCHEME APPROVED", re a meeting of the Lichfield War Memorial Committee, held at the Guildhall the previous Monday evening, at which they had recommended acceptance of the following: 'This scheme involves: (a) Alterations in height of walls between the Memorial Garden and the gardens of Archdeacon Blakeway's and Canon Penny's house and the erection of a length of new wall between the Memorial Garden and the house formerly occupied by the late Mr. A. E. Chinn. Arrangements have been made for carrying out this work by or on behalf of the Dean and Chapter. b) The levelling and laying out of the garden itself and improvements to road and path in front of the Memorial Garden. Arrangements have been made for carrying out this work. (c) The memorial itself- exclusive of inscription: and memorial tablets. (d) Erection and adaptation of stone balustrading and steps bought from Shenstone Court. (e) Wrought iron gate. (f) Inscription and Memorial Tablets- in bronze if possible- on the memorial itself'. [The Committee had commented that 'At present a sum £1,200 is available, (c) and (d) are estimated to cost £1,166 (or £1,100 if the statue is of stone, not bronze), leaving £40 or £100 for (e) and (f) and contingencies', which they deemed 'an inadequate amount to complete the scheme, as it should be finished, in the most fitting manner', and hoped that 'those who have not yet contributed will so at once in order that the Committee may know how much is available for the two objects (e) and (f)'. The report also included the following information: 'The Architect (Mr. C. E. Bateman) in his description of the general scheme, explains that it will be a memorial not only providing a monument to the fallen but will at the same time prove a great boon to the inhabitants and visitors in providing "a Garden of Rest," which will add to the amenities of the City in helping to adorn its main street and approach, to a fuller view of the glorious Cathedral which makes Lichfield known and famous throughout the world. The site at the right hand end of the bridge and opposite to the Museum Grounds, having frontages to the street and Minster Pool. The surface about midway between the water line and the street, making a shrub garden over which the finest view of the spires will be obtained. The present brick wall will be removed, the street and footpath widened and the new fence will.be a handsome stone balustrade having piers and gates in the centre, with steps down to the garden, a straight path will lead across to the wall at the far end, in the centre of which will be placed the architectural memorial of golden coloured stone. The treatment is of English Renaissance character, about 19 ft. high and 15 ft. wide, with enriched mouldings; in the centre of the upper part will be a bronze figure of St. George and the Dragon and below bronze panels bearing the inscription and names; this will stand on a stone paved terrace extending the whole width of the garden. The garden will be laid out with turf surrounding walks and flower beds, and there will be stone balustrading at each end of the frontage to the Minster Pool, the centre portion being left open to obtain better views of the water and of the garden from the other side of the pool. When completed the garden should make a beauty spot of colour and repose in which those who are bereaved may contemplate in silent remembrance under the shadow of the Cathedral itself. Mr. A. D. Parker said that the plan, as presented to the committee, promised to be one of the greatest improvements ever made in Lichfield. He hoped that citizens would cordially co-operate in the effort to make it a worthy memorial to those who had given their lives in the war...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000379/19191226/002/0002

Lichfield Mercury - Friday 22 October 1920 (page 5) printed a detailed account of the ceremony held two days earlier, which began: 'Lichfield War Memorial. UNVEILING AND DEDICATION CEREMONY No more impressive and solemn service has ever taken place in Lichfield than that which was witnessed on Wednesday afternoon, when the City's Memorial to those who went out from within its borders and gave their lives for the service of their King and Country in the Great War was unveiled and dedicated. There was a quiet dignity and reverent spirit about the whole proceedings which touched all hearts. Most impressive of all, perhaps, was the final scene, when, following the sounding of the " Last Post " by the buglers, wreaths were placed at the foot of the memorial by those who had lost those nearest and dearest them and by others who desired to pay tribute to the glorious dead, while the band of the 2nd Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry played the mournful yet inspiring March Funebre of Chopin. DESCRIPTION OF THE MEMORIAL. The memorial takes the form of a "Garden of Rest," with an architectural monument, on a site in Bird Street, facing the Museum Grounds, and having frontages to Bird Street and the Minster Pool. The site was originally a garden belonging to the Corporation and attached to a house adjoining which belonged to the Dean and Chapter. An amicable arrangement as to new boundary wall between the two properties was arrived at with the Dean and Chapter, who generously bore the cost of its construction. The high wall which ran along the side Bird Street has been demolished and has been replaced by a handsome stone balustrade obtained from Shenstone Court. In the centre are gates of wrought iron, of old English design, having a fixed pediment of scroll and foliage, and surmounted by " Pax—l9l9." In the high wall already referred to there was an ancient boundary stone, which defined the parish boundaries of the Close and St. Mary, and which marked one of the stopping places in the annual perambulation of the bounds of the Close by the clergy and choir of the Cathedral on Ascension Day. In order that this stone may be preserved it has been built into the base of the right hand pier at the entrance to the garden. From the entrance gate, steps lead down into the garden, across which a path has been made to the wall at the opposite end. In the centre of the wall a handsome monument of golden-coloured Guiting stone has been erected, 19ft .high and 15ft. wide, with enriched mouldings, the treatment being of English Renaissance character. In the centre of the upper part is a figure in Portland stone of St. George and the dragon, and below in gilt letters on side panels of green Westmorland slate, are the names—over 200 in number—of the fallen. The centre panel bears the following noble inscription: Remember with thanksgiving the men of this City who in their Country's hour of need went forth, endured hardness, faced danger and finally passed out of the sight of men the path of sacrifice and the gate of Death. Let all who come after see to it that these dead shall not have died in vain, that their name be not forgotten, and what they strove tor perish not." The names inscribed on the panels are as follows:...' '...The memorial stands on a stone paved terrace extending the whole width of the garden. The garden has been laid out with turf, surrounding walks and flower beds, and a stone balustrade fronts the Minster Pool, the centre of which has been left open in order that better views may be obtained of the water and of the garden from the other side the Pool. Excellent views are also afforded of the Cathedral, and in addition the memorial has effected an important street improvement at a point where the footpath was very narrow. In the centre of the garden, a handsome sun-dial of Portland stone, has been fixed, this being the gift of an anonymous donor, who has also defrayed the cost of the foundation and the surrounding old-world paving. Two stone garden vases, the gift of Councillor H. J. C. Winterton, have been fixed on the piers at the foot of the entrance steps, and Mr. F. D. Winterton has presented a garden seat and a large stone garden vase which has been placed on the north herbaceous border. Other gifts, smaller yet very welcome, have also been made, and as time goes these will doubtless be added to in the attempt to improve the garden in various directions. The garden has been laid out and the architectural monument erected to the designs of Mr. C. E. Bateman, F.R.I.B.A., the well-known architect, of Birmingham, who also designed the sundial. The monument and the sun-dial were executed at the works of Messrs. R. Bridgeman and Sons, and the lay-out and foundation work was carried out under the supervision of the City Surveyor (Mr. P. A. Benn, F. S.I.). The latter was a task of no little magnitude, inasmuch as owing to the treacherous nature of the ground, it was necessary to provide reinforced concrete foundations for the structural work. The handsome entrance gates are the work of Mr. J. C. Culwick of Lichfield...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000379/19201022/029/0005

Historic England: Details of the Grade II* Listing of the memorial on 5/2/1952 (List Entry Number 1187733). https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1187733?section=official-list-entry

Lichfield Mercury - Friday 03 June 1955 (page 7) printed the announcement: 'Lichfield's Roll of Honour To the Editor of the "Mercury" Sir, - I am very pleased to say that the Memorial Garden is now nearing completion. A list of the names of all those citizens of Lichfield who gave their lives in the 1939-45 war has been compiled and their names will be inscribed on the War Memorial. I would be grateful if the relatives of those citizens who died in the service of their country in the struggles which followed the 1939-45 war would please send me the necessary information within the next fourteen days so that these names, too, may be added to the Roll of Honour. J. G. GILL, Mayor. Guildhall, Lichfield'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000379/19550603/044/0007

War Memorials Trust WMO/110351 https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/110351

War Memorials Trust Bulletin No.56 (February 2013) p.7, published by the War Memorials Trust London; 'Lichfield Remembrance Garden' article, illustrated with four colour photos, describing the restoration of the Garden c2012 (aided by a WMT grant of £9,287). Details of that restoration are viewable online at https://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=932