- Type of Memorial
- Composite
- WMR Reference Number
- 3168
- Description
- A rectangular plinth with angle buttresses, surmounted by a sarcophagus with scrolled brackets at the corners, and an urn with a flame. Two inscribed, slate panels on the long faces of the plinth carries the main commemorations: circular, engraved tablets on its shorter ends carry the regiment's battle honours. There is also a Latin inscription carved into the side of the sarcophagus.
- Inscription
- 12 o'clock panel, left side: SACRED/ TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE DEPARTED WARRIORS/ OF THE SEVENTY NINTH REGIMENT/ BY WHOSE VALOUR, DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE/ THE FRENCH LAND FORCE IN INDIA/ WERE FIRST WHITHOLD AND REPELLED/ THE COMMERCE OF GREAT BRITAIN PRESERVED/ HER SETTLEMENTS RESCUED FROM IMPENDING DESTRUCTION/ THE MEMORABLE DEFENCE OF MADRAS/ THE DECISIVE BATTLE OF WANDEWASH/ TWELVE STRONG AND IMPORTANT FORTRESS/ THREE SUPERB CAPITALS/ APCOT PONDICHERRY MANILLA/ AND THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS/ ARE LASTING MONUMENTS OF THE MILITARY GLORY
12 o'clock panel, right side - THEIR GENEROUS TREATMENT/ OF A VANGUISHED ENEMY/ EXHIBITS AN ILLUSTRIOUS EXAMPLE/ OF TRUE FORTITUDO AND MODERATION/ WORTHY OF BEING TRANSMITTED/ TO LATEST POSTERITY/ THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY KNOW/ HUMANITY IS THE CHARACTERISTIC/ OF BRITISH CONQUERORS.
6 o'clock panel - THESE TWO MONUMENTS WERE ERECTED BY LIEUT GENERAL/ SIR WILLIAM DRAPER KB IN THE GARDENS OF HIS HOUSE MANILLA/ HALL ON THE SITE OF WHICH MANILLA ROAD NOW STANDS./ BORN IN BRISTOL IN 1721, HE WAS IN 1744ELECTED A FELLOW OF/ KING'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BUT CHOSE A MILITARY CAREER RATHER THAN/ AN ACADEMIC CAREER. THE CENOTAPH COMMEMORATES THE 79TH/ REGIMENT OF FOOT, A CORPS WHICH HE HIMSELF RAISED IN 1757 FOR/ SERVICE IN THE EAST DURING THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. THIS REGIMENT/ WAS LATER DISBANDED./ IN 1762 DRAPER COMMANDED A FORCE WHICH CAPTURED THE/ SPANISH COLONY OF MANILLA IN THE PHILLIPPINE ISLANDS. BY THE/ TREATY OF PARIS (1763) THIS CONQUEST WAS RETURNED TO SPAIN/ WITHOPUT RANSOM OR INDEMNITY./ THE OBSELISK IS A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM PITT, EARL OF CHATHAM/ WHO AS PRIME MINISTER PLANNED AND INSPIRED THE VICTORIOUS/ CAMPAIGNS OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. AS A RESULT OF THESE THE/ BRITISH REPLACED THE FRENCH AS RULERS IN INDIA AND CANADA./ IN 1766 THE SOCIETY OF MERCHANT VENTURERS DEPUTED TO/ SIR WILLIAM DRAPER AUTHORITY FOR THE KEEPING IN ORDER OF/ CLIFTON DOWN. THE OLDER TREES ON THIS SPOT MAY HAVE BEEN/ PLANTED BY HIM. HE DIED AT BATH IN 1797 AND LIES BURIED IN THE/ ABBEY THERE.
Inscription on the urn: SISTE GRADUM QUI EST BRITONUM TIBI CURA VIATOR/ SISTE GRADUM VACUO REGOLAS INSCRIPTA SEPULCHRO/ TRISTIA EATA VIRUM QUOSBELLICUS ARDOR EORUM/ PROH DOLOR HAUD UNQUAM REDITUROS MISIT AD QREEM/ NEC TIBI SIT LUGERE PUDOR SI FORTE TUORUM/ NOMINA NOTA LEGAS SED CUM TERRA O MARIQ/ INVICTOS HEROUM ANIMOS ET FACTAS REVOLVAS/ SI PATRIA TE TANGIT AMOR SI FAMA BRITANNUM/ PARCE TRIUMPHALES LACHRYMIS ASPERGERE LAUROS/ QUI SI ASIAE PENETRARE SINUS ATQ[UE]ULTIMA GANGIS/ PANDERE CLAUSTRA PANES INDOS LACESSERE BELLO/ EX HIS VIRTUTEM DISCAS LABOREM/ FORTUNAM EX ALIIS
Battle Tablets: SIEGE OF/ MADRASS/ RAIF'D FEB 17/1759/ BATTLE OF/ WANDEWASH/ GAINED JAN 22/1760/ AROOT/ RECOVER'D/ FEB 10/1760/ (5 FURTHER TABLETS ILLEGIBLE FROM PHOTOGRAPH)
