Southport War Memorial facts for kids
The Southport War Memorial is a special monument located in London Square, on Lord Street in Southport, England. It was built to remember the brave people from the area who lost their lives in wars. The memorial has a tall, pointed stone pillar called an obelisk, with two long, open buildings (called colonnades) on either side, designed to look like ancient Greek temples. Outside these buildings are peaceful gardens with Pools of Remembrance and fountains. Local architects Grayson and Barnish designed the memorial, and Herbert Tyson Smith did the detailed carvings. It was officially opened in 1923 by the Earl of Derby. After World War II and other conflicts, more names and messages were added. This important memorial is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it's a very special historical building.
Contents
Building the Memorial
After World War I ended, people in Southport wanted to create a way to remember those who had died. In 1919, a committee was formed to raise money from the public. They wanted to build a monument, help the local hospital, and support children who had lost parents in the war. They decided the monument would be in London Square as part of a plan to make the town centre look better.
People donated a lot of money, raising over £31,000. A competition was held to find the best design for the monument. The winning design came from a team of architects from Liverpool, Grayson and Barnish. At first, the design didn't include any sculptures, so Herbert Tyson Smith was hired to add the beautiful carvings. After some delays, the memorial was finally opened on 18 November 1923.
Later, after World War II, more messages were added to the memorial in 1956. At the same time, fountains were put into the Pools of Remembrance. In 1992, plaques with the names of those who died in World War II were added, and later, names from more recent conflicts were included too.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Southport War Memorial has three main parts: a tall obelisk, two colonnades, and the surrounding gardens. The main structures are made from a light-coloured stone called Portland stone. The carvings and name panels are made from marble.
The obelisk stands in the middle of a traffic island. The two colonnades are on either side of it, and the gardens stretch out beyond them.
The Obelisk
.JPG)
The obelisk is a very tall, pointed pillar, about 20.5 meters (67 feet) high. It stands on a square base. There are special carvings on three sides of the obelisk.
On one side, there's a carving of a wreath and the words:
LOOK UPWARD STANDING MUTE. SALUTE
Below this are the dates "MCMXIV–MCMXVIII", which are Roman numerals for 1914–1918, the years of World War I.
On another side, you can see the coat of arms (a special symbol) of Southport and the words:
SALUS POPULI
This means "The welfare of the people" in Latin.
A carving added in 1956 on the third side says:
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS COUNTY BOROUGH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE LIBERTY OF THE WORLD AND THE SECURITY OF THIS REALM IN THE WORLD WAR 1939–1945
THEIR NAMES ARE RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE WHICH LIES NEARBY IN THE KEEPING OF CHRIST CHURCH
THE FOUNTAINS ADDED TO THE MEMORIAL POOLS ARE DEDICATED TO THEIR HONOURED MEMORY
This message remembers those who died in World War II (1939–1945).
The Colonnades
The two colonnades look very similar. They are designed like ancient Greek temples, with rows of columns. Each colonnade has four pairs of fluted (grooved) columns on each side, creating an open walkway. At each end of the colonnade is a small enclosed room called a cenotaph, which is like a monument to people buried elsewhere.
Inside these cenotaphs, there are altars and marble tablets. These tablets list the names of battles from World War I, army badges, and the names and ranks of the soldiers who died. The names include those lost in both World Wars and later conflicts.
Outside the colonnades, surrounding the obelisk, are old-fashioned lamp stands made of cast iron. They also have fluted columns and are decorated with carved leaves.
Northeast Colonnade
On the side of this colonnade facing the obelisk, you'll see the words:
TELL BRITAIN YE WHO MARK THIS MONUMENT
This is part of a famous saying that means "If you are British and see this monument, tell everyone."
On the side facing the garden, it says:
THEIR PORTION IS WITH THE ETERNAL
This means their place is with God forever.
One carved panel on this colonnade shows Britannia, a symbol of Britain, holding a small statue of Victory. Another message on a platform facing the garden reads:
THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE
WE LIVE ONLY AS WE SAFEGUARD
THE IDEALS FOR WHICH THEY DIED
FREEDOM JUSTICE MERCY
SO LET US LIVE
THAT WE MAY SHARE WITH THEM THE LIFE ETERNAL
This powerful message reminds us to live by the values of freedom, justice, and mercy that the soldiers fought for.
Inside the cenotaph, the altar has carvings of Patroclus and Achilles, two famous heroes from ancient Greek stories. A tablet on the wall says:
FOR THE SACRED CAUSE OF JUSTICE
Southwest Colonnade
On the side of this colonnade facing the obelisk, the inscription says:
FAITHFUL TO HER WE FELL AND REST CONTENT
This means they were loyal to Britain and died peacefully.
On the side facing the garden, it reads:
TO FAMOUS MEN ALL EARTH IS SEPULCHRE
This means that famous people are remembered everywhere, not just in one grave.
A carved panel on this side shows Britannia mourning, representing sadness for the dead. Another panel has a long message:
REMEMBER THAT THE MEN WHOSE NAMES LIVE ON THESE WALLS DIED IN YOUTH OR PRIME
THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS MIGHT INHERIT A HAPPIER WORLD
AND A HUMAN SOCIETY MORE RIGHTEOUS AND MORE LOVING THAN THOSE BRAVE MEN AND THEIR GENERATION KNEW
This message asks us to remember that these soldiers died young so that future generations could live in a better, more fair, and loving world.
The altar inside this cenotaph has a carving called "Death and the Soldier." Two tablets here say:
ALL THAT THEY HAD THEY GAVE
and
THEIR NAME LIVETH
These short messages honor the ultimate sacrifice made by the soldiers.
The Gardens
On either side of the colonnades are the Memorial Gardens. In the middle of each garden is a long, rectangular Pool of Remembrance with three fountains. The pools are surrounded by flat stone edges. At the end of each pool, near the colonnade, there's a low curved wall with a lion's head that spouts water. The pools are surrounded by green lawns and stone railings.
Why the Memorial is Important
The Southport War Memorial was officially recognized as a special historical building in 1972 and was given a Grade II* listing in 2010. This means it's considered a "particularly important building of more than special interest."
Experts say the memorial is "highly striking, powerful and reverential," creating a sense of dignity in the town centre. Its classical style, with the colonnades looking like Greek temples, and its carvings and messages, remind us of ancient battles and brave warriors. It stands as a lasting tribute to those who served.
