WELSH NATIONAL BOER WAR MEMORIALS
Yesterday, while in Cardiff for the rugby, I visited the Welsh National South African War Memorial at Cathays Park.
On returning home I had a shufti through the ABW forum and surprisingly couldn't find a thread describing the memorial.
So here begins another thread if I may.
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Location:
CATHAYS PARK,
KING EDWARD VII AVENUE,
CARDIFF,
SOUTH GLAMORGAN,
CF10 3NK,
WALES.
OS Grid Reference: ST18221 76832
Denomination:undefined
Memorial type : composite. Pedestal of Portland stone with a Granite base and bronze figures.
Maker: Albert Toft (Sculptor)
Ceremony: unveiled on 20th November 1909 and attended by General Sir John French (later Earl of Ypres) KO GCB OM GCVO KCMG
The following copied from the Imperial War Museum website :
"Memorial consists of bronze figures on a Portland stone plinth on square base of granite steps with curved front and corner metal lampstands with glass globe. A seated male figure on left (representing war and courage) holds a sword and is leaning against a shield. A seated female figure on the right (representing grief) holds a wreath and is also leaning on a shield. Whole is surmounted by a winged figure of peace holding an olive branch and standing on an orb".
Inscription: TO THE MEMORY /OF THE WELSHMEN WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA /1899-1902/ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION
The IWM website shows conflicting numbers for the number of names recorded on the Stone panels as follows :
799 names of soldiers who died in SA on the memorial for which you can access some very brief information.
817 total names of soldiers who died in SA on the memorial.
0 names of served and returned.
The regiments/units in which the fallen served are also given in detail, a useful reference point.
As you would expect the majority of men served in the South Wales Borderers and the 1st and 3rd VB of the Welsh Regiment (Please see attached images on this post and also the following one. I have reached my 10 image limit for this post).
Now there would be the makings of a good project to research each man named thereon.
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The maintenance history of the monument states that Mossfords of Cardiff recut the lettering around 2005/6 at the original request of Cardiff City Council from 1993/5 as the lettering had become illegible.
Sadly, there are currently (2021) signs of erosion due to weathering on some of the uppermost areas of naming on the some of the panels making them difficult to read. I hope that funding is available to provide the necessary remedial work required in the future.
In 1993 it was noted that part of a rose branch had been stolen from the figure of peace (I am sure that should be olive branch!).
The monument is not far out of the town and near to Cardiff Castle at the end of a broad avenue.
Definitely worth a visit whilst in Cardiff.
Yesterday, while in Cardiff for the rugby, I visited the Welsh National South African War Memorial at Cathays Park.
On returning home I had a shufti through the ABW forum and surprisingly couldn't find a thread describing the memorial.
So here begins another thread if I may.
Location:
CATHAYS PARK,
KING EDWARD VII AVENUE,
CARDIFF,
SOUTH GLAMORGAN,
CF10 3NK,
WALES.
OS Grid Reference: ST18221 76832
Denomination:undefined
Memorial type : composite. Pedestal of Portland stone with a Granite base and bronze figures.
Maker: Albert Toft (Sculptor)
Ceremony: unveiled on 20th November 1909 and attended by General Sir John French (later Earl of Ypres) KO GCB OM GCVO KCMG
The following copied from the Imperial War Museum website :
"Memorial consists of bronze figures on a Portland stone plinth on square base of granite steps with curved front and corner metal lampstands with glass globe. A seated male figure on left (representing war and courage) holds a sword and is leaning against a shield. A seated female figure on the right (representing grief) holds a wreath and is also leaning on a shield. Whole is surmounted by a winged figure of peace holding an olive branch and standing on an orb".
Inscription: TO THE MEMORY /OF THE WELSHMEN WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA /1899-1902/ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION
The IWM website shows conflicting numbers for the number of names recorded on the Stone panels as follows :
799 names of soldiers who died in SA on the memorial for which you can access some very brief information.
817 total names of soldiers who died in SA on the memorial.
0 names of served and returned.
The regiments/units in which the fallen served are also given in detail, a useful reference point.
As you would expect the majority of men served in the South Wales Borderers and the 1st and 3rd VB of the Welsh Regiment (Please see attached images on this post and also the following one. I have reached my 10 image limit for this post).
Now there would be the makings of a good project to research each man named thereon.
The maintenance history of the monument states that Mossfords of Cardiff recut the lettering around 2005/6 at the original request of Cardiff City Council from 1993/5 as the lettering had become illegible.
Sadly, there are currently (2021) signs of erosion due to weathering on some of the uppermost areas of naming on the some of the panels making them difficult to read. I hope that funding is available to provide the necessary remedial work required in the future.
In 1993 it was noted that part of a rose branch had been stolen from the figure of peace (I am sure that should be olive branch!).
The monument is not far out of the town and near to Cardiff Castle at the end of a broad avenue.
Definitely worth a visit whilst in Cardiff.