Plymouth Naval Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plymouth Naval Memorial |
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| Commonwealth War Graves Commission | |
Plymouth Naval Memorial from the seaward side
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| For members of the Royal Navy who died during the First and Second World War and have no known grave | |
| Unveiled | 29 July 1924 |
| Designed by | Robert Lorimer |
| Commemorated | 23,211 |
| Statistics source: Cemetery details. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. | |
The Plymouth Naval Memorial is a special place in Plymouth, England. It remembers sailors from Britain and other Commonwealth countries. These brave people died at sea during World War I and World War II and have no known grave.
Contents
Why Was the Memorial Built?
After World War I ended, the Royal Navy wanted a way to honor its sailors and Royal Marines. Many had been lost at sea and their bodies were never found. So, a special committee decided to build memorials at three main naval ports in Britain. These were Plymouth, Chatham, and Portsmouth.
Who Designed the First Memorials?
The famous architect Sir Robert Lorimer designed all three memorials. A sculptor named Henry Poole created the statues and carvings. The Plymouth Naval Memorial was officially opened on July 29, 1924.
Expanding the Memorial for World War II
When World War II ended, even more sailors had been lost. The memorials needed to be made bigger to remember them too. Sir Edward Maufe designed the new parts for the Plymouth memorial. Charles Wheeler and William McMillan created the new sculptures.
Who Else Does the Memorial Remember?
The Plymouth memorial also honors sailors from Australia, South Africa, and India. In total, it remembers 7,251 sailors from World War I and 15,933 from World War II. That's a lot of people!
Other Commonwealth Memorials
Sailors from other parts of the Commonwealth are remembered in different places. There are memorials in Halifax and Victoria in Canada. You can also find them in Auckland, New Zealand, Mumbai, India, Chittagong, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. A special memorial in France, called the Newfoundland Memorial, remembers 229 sailors from Newfoundland who died in World War I.
Who Looks After the Memorial?
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission takes care of the memorial. This group makes sure that war graves and memorials around the world are looked after. The Plymouth Naval Memorial is a very important building. It became a Grade I listed building in 2016. This means it's a building of exceptional historical interest.
Where Is the Memorial Located?
The memorial stands proudly on The Hoe. This is a large open space in Plymouth that looks out over Plymouth Sound. It's a beautiful spot with great views of the sea.
How Is the Memorial Designed?
The memorial has a tall, central stone pillar called an obelisk. The names of the sailors are carved onto panels. For World War I, the names are on panels attached to the base of the obelisk. For World War II, the names are on panels set into the wall around the obelisk. The names are listed by the year the person died. Then, they are grouped by their navy service, their rank, and their last name.
