A Fitting Place to Remember – Royston War Memorial – March 2022 marks 100 years since it was unveiled…
Royston’s war memorial has always been respected as a distinctive example of those erected after the 1914-1918 war. It has a character of its own, with the statue of a British ‘Tommy’ of that war holding pride of place, and a Royston crow poised at his feet – though modelled bird had to be replaced as a result of vandalism or theft in the post-1945 era. March 2022 marks 100 years since it was unveiled.
The background statuary on the memorial – in case you don’t know – show, to the left, a longbow-man, a knight, who fought in Agincourt, and an Elizabethan soldier, with a Royston ‘worthy’ of the time of Whitgift in the centre.
On the right stands one of Cromwell’s ‘Roundheads’, a soldier who fought under Marlborough at Ramilles, and a soldier of Waterloo.
There was a considerable debate on where Royston’s memorial should be sited – the Green in Kneesworth Street was one favoured spot. Eventually the present, very suitable site was agreed upon and the memorial was completed in early 1922.
The unveiling took place on the afternoon of Sunday 26th March 1922, and was carried out by the late Lieut-Colonel ECM Phillips, DSO. The ceremony came after a procession from Market Hill, and among those also taking part was Mr. D A Bevan, Chairman of the Memorial Committee, with the Chairman of Royston Urban District Council, Walter Titchmarsh.
The memorial was dedicated by the long-serving Royston vicar, the Reverend Joseph Harrison, assisted by the Reverend R W Jackson, the Congregational Minister.
