Machine Gun Corps Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Machine Gun Corps Memorial |
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| United Kingdom | |
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| For Machine Gun Corps men who died in World War I | |
| Unveiled | 1925 |
| Location | 51°30′12″N 0°09′03″W / 51.5032°N 0.1508°W |
| Designed by | Francis Derwent Wood |
The Machine Gun Corps Memorial is a special monument in London, United Kingdom. It's also known as The Boy David. This memorial remembers the brave soldiers of the Machine Gun Corps who lost their lives in the First World War. You can find it at Hyde Park Corner, a busy spot in London. It stands near other important memorials, like the Wellington Arch.
Contents
About the Machine Gun Corps Memorial
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The memorial has a tall column made of light grey marble. On top, there's a bronze statue of a young man named David. This statue is about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. David stands in a classic pose, with one hand on his hip. His other hand rests on a very large sword, which belonged to Goliath.
On each side of the main column, there are bronze models of Vickers machine guns. These guns are decorated with laurel wreaths, which are symbols of victory and honor.
What Do the Words on It Say?
The main column has an important message. It says: "ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE GLORIOUS HEROES OF THE MACHINE GUN CORPS WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR." This means it was built to honor the brave soldiers of the Machine Gun Corps who died in the war.
Below this, there's a quote from the Bible, from 1 Samuel 18:7. It says: "Saul has slain his thousands but David his tens of thousands." This quote shows how many soldiers the Machine Gun Corps helped defeat.
On the sides, you'll see the dates 1914 and 1919. These are the years the First World War started and ended. The back of the memorial also tells us that the Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 and stopped existing in 1922. Many soldiers served in this group, and a very large number of them were killed or wounded. They often fought in very dangerous places, which led to many casualties.
The Story of the Memorial
When Was It Built?
The Machine Gun Corps Memorial was first put up near Hyde Park Corner. It was officially revealed on May 10, 1925. A royal family member, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, helped unveil it. Some soldiers who had won a special award called the Victoria Cross also placed a wreath there.
Why Was It Controversial?
When the memorial was first shown, some people didn't like it. They thought the beautiful statue of David with the machine guns, and the quote about slaying thousands, made war seem glorious. They wrote letters to newspapers and talked about it in Parliament.
However, the artist, Francis Derwent Wood, had a different idea. He wanted to show the real side of war. He knew how terrible war could be because he had worked helping wounded soldiers. He designed special masks for soldiers with serious face injuries. So, he understood the horrors of modern warfare.
Where Is It Now?
The memorial was taken down in 1945 because of road construction. For many years, it wasn't put back up. But in 1963, it was placed in its current spot in the middle of Hyde Park Corner.
The memorial is now a protected historical site. It was given a special Grade II listing in 1970 and upgraded to Grade II* in 2014. This means it's a very important historical monument. Each year, former members of the Machine Gun Corps and their families gather at the memorial to remember the soldiers who died.
Other Memorials Inspired by It
A copy of the "Boy David" statue is kept in a museum in Australia. Another similar statue, inspired by Derwent Wood's work, was put on a different memorial for the Machine Gun Corps in Chelsea. The original statue there was stolen, and a new one was put up in 1975.
