Oldham War Memorial facts for kids
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The Oldham War Memorial is a special monument in Oldham, England. It has a big bronze sculpture of soldiers on a stone base. This memorial was built to remember the brave men from Oldham who died in the First World War. Nearby, plaques list the names of those who were lost. This includes Mabel Drinkwater, a nurse. Later, a moving list of names was added for those who died in the Second World War. The memorial is a very important historical building. It was first listed in 1973 and its importance was increased in 2016.
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Building the Memorial
After the First World War ended, people in Oldham wanted to build a memorial. In 1919, they started raising money. Their goal was to collect £20,000. This money would build the memorial. It would also help pay for school for children who lost their fathers. Any extra money would go to the local hospital.
The Oldham War Memorial Committee asked people to design the memorial. Thomas Taylor designed the overall structure. The bronze sculpture was created by Albert Toft.
Choosing the Location
Deciding where to put the memorial was a bit tricky. The first idea was the Market Place. But this spot was too close to public toilets. So, that idea was dropped.
Then, a spot near St Mary's Church was suggested. But this was too close to a pub. People thought it wasn't the right place. Other places like Alexandra Park were also thought about. Finally, they chose the spot near St Mary's Church. It is right across from the Old Town Hall.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The war memorial has a bronze sculpture group. It shows five life-size soldiers. They are wearing their battle uniforms. They are also carrying their weapons. This sculpture sits on top of a granite stone base. The base is about 3 meters (10 feet) tall.
At first, the sculpture faced the church. But at the last minute, it was turned around. Now, it faces the town hall. The soldiers look like they are moving through trenches. One soldier stands on top of the memorial. He looks like he has climbed out of the trenches. He is encouraging his friends to move forward. This same soldier figure is used on other memorials. You can see it in London and in France.
The stone base used to have two bronze doors. These were on the north and south sides. They opened into a small room inside. This room held a list of names. These were soldiers from the Manchester Regiment. It was also a quiet place for prayer. In the 1950s, the south doors were removed. A glass window was put there instead. Through this window, you can see a moving list of names. These are the names of those who died in the Second World War.
There are also important messages on the memorial. Above the south doors, it says: "DEATH IS THE GATE OF LIFE / 1914–1918". Over the window on the south side, it reads: "TO GOD BE THE PRAISE".
History of the Memorial
The Oldham War Memorial was officially revealed on April 28, 1923. General Sir Ian Hamilton did the unveiling. More than 10,000 people came to watch. The Bishop of Manchester, William Temple, blessed the memorial.
In 1973, the memorial became a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical site. It was cleaned and fixed up in 2012 and 2013. It was blessed again on November 10, 2013. In 2016, its listing was upgraded to II*. This shows it is even more important.
