| Todmorden War Memorial | |
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| Todmorden | |
Todmorden War Memorial |
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| For the men of Todmorden who died in World War I, World War II and the Korean War | |
| Unveiled | 9 October 1921 |
| Location | near Todmorden |
| Designed by | Gilbert Bayes |
| These are they who being peacable citizens of Todmorden at the call of King and country and in defence of their natie land left all that was dear to them, endured hardship, faced danger and finally passed out of the sight of man by the path of duty and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Their name liveth on for evermore. | |
Todmorden War Memorial is a war memorial located in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, England.
The memorial is in the garden of remembrance in Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road with sculptural work by Gilbert Bayes. The War Memorial was unveiled on 9 October 1921.
Contents |
Originally the work involved three statues. There were two small sculptures in portland stone both involving children. One was called “The Lamp of Memory” and the other “The Shield of Honour”. The main piece is a tall statue of St George, again in Portland Stone, holding his sword in triumph, having slaughtered a four headed dragon. He stands on a globe supported by draped female figures. This piece is an ornamental fountain and water would project from the four dragon heads.
The piece stands on a plinth in a horse-shoe shaped water basin with a tall wall behind bearing the dates “1914-18” and “1939-1945”. Between these two dates is set the main inscription, the text of which is given below and on either side and in six bays are tablets engraved with the names of the fallen. Apart from remembering the 659 men from Todmorden who died in World War I, the memorial also remembers the 150 men of Todmorden who died in World War II and two men killed in the Korean War. The names are arranged alphabetically, without distinction as to rank, under their respective regiments.
The sculptures were completed in 1921 and the main inscription reads:
THESE ARE THEY WHO BEING PEACEABLE CITIZENS OF TODMORDEN AT THE CALL OF KING AND COUNTRY AND IN DEFENCE OF THEIR NATIVE LAND LEFT ALL THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM, ENDURED HARDSHIP, FACED DANGER AND FINALLY PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF MAN BY THE PATH OF DUTY AND SELF SACRIFICE, GIVING UP THEIR OWN LIVES THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM. THEIR NAME LIVETH ON FOR EVERMORE
The central fountain piece is in good condition. The statue base was restored a few years ago by experts, after periods in storage where it had deteriorated badly.
The two smaller statues entitled, “The Lamp of Mercy” and “The Shield of Honour” are no longer there having been stolen in the early 90s, however, in summer 2011 Todmorden Civic Society embarked on a campaign to raise funds and have the statues replaced in time for the One-hundred year anniversary of the commencement of the First World War.[1]
Gilbert Bayes’ parents were Todmorden people. His father, Alfred Walter Bayes, was a school master at Lumbutts and had married Emily Ann Fielden of Todmorden. He was a distinguished artist and taught at one time at Lumbutts School. They had four children- Gilbert William, Walter John, Emmeline and Jessie Bayes. Both Walter John and Jessie enjoyed success in the world of art.