24th East Surrey Division War Memorial facts for kids
The 24th East Surrey Division War Memorial is a special monument in Battersea Park, London. It helps us remember the brave soldiers who fought in the First World War. This memorial has a very unique and modern design. It was created by an artist named Eric Kennington and was first shown to the public in 1924. It's now considered a very important historical building.
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About the 24th Division War Memorial
This memorial honors the 24th Division. This was a British army group of foot soldiers. They served on the Western Front during the First World War.
Who Was the 24th Division?
The 24th Division was formed in September 1914. It was part of a new army called Kitchener's Army. This army was put together by Lord Kitchener. The division fought in many important battles. These included the Battle of Loos in 1915. They also fought in the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont in 1916. Later, they were part of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the Battle of Messines in 1917. Their last major battle was the Battle of the Sambre in 1918.
The 24th Division was officially ended in 1919. Sadly, over 35,000 of its soldiers were killed, wounded, or went missing during the war.
The Artist Behind the Memorial
The artist who designed the memorial was Eric Kennington. He had also served as a soldier in the war. He was part of two different groups of soldiers, including the Artists Rifles. Later, he became a special artist who drew pictures of the war.
Eric Kennington took on this project for free. He even bought the stone for the memorial himself. That stone cost about £300. Smaller models of his design were shown in a newspaper in 1922.
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The finished memorial is made from Portland stone. It stands about 6 feet 6 inches (2 meters) tall. It shows three infantry soldiers. They are wearing their full uniforms, helmets, and carrying rifles. A snake wraps around their feet.
The three soldiers in the sculpture are based on real people. On the right is Trooper Morris Clifford Thomas. In the middle is Sergeant J Woods. On the left is Robert Graves, a famous writer.
The soldiers stand on a base made of three parts. This base has the words "XXIV Division France 1914–1918" carved into it. Around the base, you can also see the badges of the twenty different groups that made up the 24th Division. A person named Lucy Sampson carved these details. The whole memorial stands on two round steps. A circular hedge surrounds it.
Unveiling the Memorial
The memorial was officially shown to the public on October 4, 1924. Field Marshal Lord Plumer and the Bishop of Southwark Cyril Garbett led the ceremony. A special group of soldiers stood guard. Sir John Capper also spoke. He was the commander of the 24th Division for a time. He shared that the division lost 4,865 soldiers who were killed. Another 24,000 were wounded, and 6,000 went missing.
In 2005, the memorial became a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical site.
Images for kids
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A view of the memorial in Battersea Park.
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The three soldiers on the memorial.
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Close-up of the soldiers' faces.
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The base of the memorial with unit badges.
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Another angle of the memorial.
