National Submarine War Memorial facts for kids
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The National Submariners' War Memorial is a special war memorial in London, England. You can find it on the Victoria Embankment, which is a road next to the River Thames. It stands between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. This important memorial remembers all the brave Royal Navy submariners who lost their lives. They died serving in submarines during the First World War and the Second World War.
This memorial is also known by a few other names. People sometimes call it the National Submarine War Memorial or just the Submarine Memorial. It is a very important historical site. Each year, submariners gather here for a special walk. They also lay wreaths to honor those who died. This event happens on the Sunday before Remembrance Sunday.
Contents
Building the Memorial
The money for this memorial came from people donating. It was designed by an architect named Arthur Heron Ryan Tenison. The bronze sculpture on it was made by Frederick Brook Hitch. This sculpture was cast, or shaped, at the Parlanti Foundry.
The memorial was built into a granite pier. This pier was once part of the entrance to Temple Pier. Temple Pier was a place where boats could stop on the Victoria Embankment.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The memorial stands on granite steps. It has a large bronze sculpture called a bas relief. This sculpture is set inside a stone frame. The bas relief shows the inside of a submarine. It also shows mythical creatures called nereids swimming. On the sides of the main bronze are two figures. They represent Truth and Justice.
Around the central bronze plaques are 40 bronze hooks. These hooks are shaped like anchors. People use them to hang wreaths. At the very top of the memorial, there is an inscription. It says: "Erected to the memory of the officers and men of the British Navy /who lost their lives serving in submarines 1914–1918 and 1939–1945".
On the left side of the memorial, you can see a list. It names 50 submarines that were lost during the First World War. On the right side, there is another list. This one names 82 submarines lost during the Second World War.
Unveiling and Later Additions
The memorial was officially shown to the public on December 15, 1922. Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair, who was the Chief of the Submarine Service, unveiled it. Archdeacon Charles Ingles, the Chaplain of the Fleet, dedicated it.
More panels were added later to remember the Second World War. These were unveiled on November 15, 1959. Rear-Admiral Bertram Taylor did the unveiling. In 1992, another plaque was added. This plaque marked the 70th anniversary of the memorial. It thanked the submariners' old comrades for taking care of the memorial.
The memorial became a Grade II listed building in 1972. This means it is an important historical building. In January 2017, its status was upgraded to Grade II*. This shows it is even more important.
Images for kids
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Wider view showing bronze prows
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Detail of the central relief
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Detail of the central relief: swimming nereids
