- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 96117
- Description
- A glazed cabinet containing twelve cast iron plaques originally fastened to railings surrounding trees forming the Avenue of Remembrance Colchester which was created in 1933 .The Avenue was originally composed of around 750 trees of which 280 had a plaque commemorating prominent local officials , politicians and other notable individuals .Approximately 70% of the plaques commemorated military personnel, many of whom had died in WW1and earlier conficts .
A large number of the plaques were stolen for souvenirs or scrap and the remainder were removed for safekeeping including the twelve forming this memorial . Each plaque is curved and pierced with fixing holes for attachment to railings . Also in the cabinet is a typed account of a WW1 casualty together with a modern wooden cross with a poppy attached , which is unrelated to any of the plaques .
All the names of the original plaques , both military and civilian , are recorded on later plaques , for which see #45601
- Inscription
- For each plaque /AVENUE OF REMEMBRANCE/rank ,names ,unit /ROADS BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION/
Typed memorial /9th Essex gallant advance on Morlancort 1918/ ……./Another Soldier killed that day was Sergeant Wright whose conduct that day was described as gallant/……./SERGEANT HERBERT WRIGHT12th May 1883 -22nd August 1918/I am so sorry I never knew you .I was born in 1942 in the middle of/another Word War .I give thanks for the sacrifice you made to help/improve the lives of my family and the world . Rest in Peace /Your grateful Grand daughter Heather /