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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Isle of Wight Rifles (Newport)

    Mark Newton 1 June 2016

    Source: Copyright Mark Newton 1 June 2016

    1/5

    Current Location

    Drill Hall, Drill Hall Road, Newport, Medina, Isle Of Wight, PO30 5LA, England

    OS Grid Reference

    SZ 49539 89031

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-40740

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    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    40740
    Description
    Rectangular nowy-headed Portland stone tablet (landscape-oriented), within a border of black and green marble. At top-centre is the relief-carved crest of the Isle of Wight Rifles, flanked on either side by the names of four campaigns in raised lettering. The main body of the tablet comprises seven recessed panels, each containing two columns of names in black capitals; the central column being headed by the dedicatory inscription. The tablet rests on five brackets.
    Inscription
    EGYPT GALLIPOLI PALESTINE SOUDAN/ IN/ PROUD MEMORY OF/ OUR COMRADES/ WHO PASSED OVER/ 1914 - 18/ THY VOICE IS ON THE ROLLING AIR,/ I HEAR THEE WHERE THE WATERS RUN,/ THOU STANDEST IN THE RISING SUN,/ AND IN THE SETTING THOU ART FAIR./ (names )
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    526
    Died
    526
    Information shown
    surname, initials
    Order of names
    surname
    Maker(s)
    • Messrs Ellen & Son, of Ryde, Manufacturer

    Maintenance History
    [April 2024: The Drill Hall is apparently still in use, as on 4/4/2024 the Island Echo Online reported that Retired army Colonel Patrick Crowley would be presenting a talk about the history of volunteer servicemen on the Isle of Wight 'at Drill Hall Road, Newport' on Friday 12th April]. July 2013: War Memorials Trust was informed that 'there may be plans to close the drill hall and the future of the memorials is uncertain'.

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    October 1922

    UNKNOWN

    Components

    Tablets

    Height: c 2000 cm

    Width: c 3500 cm


    Made from: Stone - Portland


    Condition: Good


    • MENPT006
    • West Sussex Gazette - Thursday 05 October 1922 (page 2) reported: 'THREE ISLE OF WIGHT WAR MEMORIALS. Princess Beatrice on Saturday unveiled, in Gatcombe Church, Isle of Wight, a marble monument, of which the principal feature is a recumbent figure of the late Captain Charles Grant Seely (eldest son of Sir Charles and Lady Seely, of Gatcombe House), who was killed at Gaza while fighting with Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Riles. This family memorial was carved by the late Sir Thomas Brock, in white marble, with a grey marble base. The memorial was dedicated by the Rev. B. K. Bond, regimental chaplain during the war. At the same time was dedicated a new organ given to the church in memory of the officers, N.C.O.'s, and men who fell in the Great War. On Sunday afternoon Princess Beatrice unveiled in the Drill Hall, Newport, a large seven-panel stone tablet, which is the regimental memorial to 522 of all ranks of Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles, who fell chiefly in Gallipoli and at Gaza'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002166/19221005/060/0002
    • Hampshire Independent - Friday 06 October 1922 (page 8) printed a lengthy report of the unveiling of the memorial in the Drill Hall, which began: ''ISLAND RIFLES' MEMORIAL The unveiling ceremony in connection with Princess Beatrice's Isle of Wight Rifles' Memorial came off on Sunday afternoon at the Drill Hall, Newport. The Princess, attended by Mr. Victor Corkran, C.V.O., and Miss Bulteel, arrived about three o'clock, and was received by Col. Veasey, commanding the battalion. There were also present three other former commanding officers of the battalion, Col. Sir Charles Seely, Bart., Col. C. V. C. Hobart, D.S.O., and Col. Rhodes. The other officers included Capt. and Adjutant Spencer-Smith, Major Ellery, Major Raymond, Capts. Garnham, Brannon. MC., Rousell, Weeding, Giddens, Lieuts. Damp, Newman, Dockrill, and Minchin. The Adjutant, Capt. Smith, and Majors Ellery and Raymond had the honour of being presented to the Princess. After inspecting the battalion and the Cadets, under Lieut.-Col. Ward, H.R.H. was escorted to the Drill Hall for the memorial service...' (The report mentioned that the memorial was made by by Messrs. Ellen and Son, of Hyde). https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002941/19221006/203/0008
    • http://www.isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk/others/newportdrillhalliwr.htm
    • https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/144527
    • Wikipedia: 'The 1st Isle of Wight Rifle Volunteers, later the 8th (Isle of Wight, 'Princess Beatrice's Own') Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, but known informally as the 'Isle of Wight Rifles', was an auxiliary unit of the British Army formed to defend the Isle of Wight after a mid-19th Century invasion scare. During World War I it fought in the Gallipoli Campaign, taking part in the calamitous attack at Suvla Bay, and later at the battles of Gaza and Megiddo in Palestine. Between the wars it was converted to coast defence artillery and served in this role on the Isle of Wight throughout World War II. One battery was sent to reinforce the garrison of Tobruk, where it was captured in 1942. Postwar the unit converted to the air defence role, then reverted to infantry, and its successors continue in today's Army Reserve...' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Wight_Rifles