Bridgwater War Memorial
{{Short description|War memorial in Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox military memorial
|name=Bridgwater War Memorial
|country=England
|body=
|image=300px
|caption=The Angel of Bridgwater which serves as Bridgwater War Memorial in King Square with the offices of Sedgemoor District Council in the background
|commemorates=World War I, World War II, Korean War, Falklands Conflict and Afghan conflict
|use_dates={{Start date|1924}}
|coordinates= {{coord|51.1296|-3.0039|display=inline,title}}
|nearest_town=Bridgwater, Somerset
|designer=John Angel
|inscription=
|established=1924
|unveiled=1924
|total=
|unknowns=
|commemorated=
- World War I – 364
- World War II −113
- Korean War – 1
- Falklands Conflict – 1
- Afghan conflict −1
|by_country=
|by_war=
|source=
}}
Bridgwater War Memorial is a Grade II* listed{{cite web|title=World War Memorial, Bridgwater|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-373942-world-war-memorial-bridgwater-somerset|publisher=Listed buildings online|accessdate=8 September 2012}} war memorial located on King Square in Bridgwater, Somerset, England, on the site previously occupied by Bridgwater Castle. It was designed by John Angel in the mid-1920s.{{cite web |url=http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1206480763 |work=Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951 |title=John Angel |accessdate=9 September 2012 |publisher=University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database |year=2011 |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525005353/https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1206480763 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Angel%2C_John_%281881-1960%29_Sculptor |title=Sculptor John Angel |publisher=Your Archives |accessdate=6 September 2012 |archive-date=7 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207114513/http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Angel,_John_(1881-1960)_Sculptor |url-status=dead }} The green figure of the memorial is allegorical,{{cite journal|title=The municipal journal and public works engineer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OI0eAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=8 September 2012|volume=35 |issue=1744–1770|year=1926|publisher=Municipal Journal}} representing "Civilization as a seated female, holding a globe in one hand and with the book of knowledge on her lap."{{cite book |last1=Borg |first1=Alan |title=War Memorials: From Antiquity to Present |publisher=Leo Cooper, Ltd |location=London |year=1991 |page=98 |isbn=085052363X}} {{ISBN|9780850523638}}.
Description
John Angel sculpted the Angel of Bridgwater.{{cite web |url=http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=514 |publisher=War Memorials Trust |title=Bridgwater. WMT Reference Number: WM2993 |work=Showcase Result |accessdate=9 September 2012}} Mounted on a plinth, a female figure of 'Civilisation' lofts the world, which is encircled by emblems of commerce and peace. Under her foot are the "demons of war." The throne and figure are backed by "relief depictions of Labour, Home, Life and Education." On her lap is a book of laws, and she is surrounded by children. Indeed, given its monumental breadth, the many details in the design, and its metaphorical and iconic form, the sculpture is subject to colorful and variant interpretations and description. The bronze was cast by W Morris Art Bronze Foundry.{{cite web|title=Bridgwater War Memorial|url=http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Somerset/Bridgwater.html|work=Roll of Honour |publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |accessdate=8 September 2012}}
At the time, Angel was working four years as assistant to Sir George Frampton, and Frampton's influence is apparent.{{cite web |url=http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Exeter/JohnAngelF.R.B.S.htm |title=John Angel F.R.B.S. |publisher=Devon Heritage |accessdate=6 September 2012}} Figures from the roughly contemporaneous Exeter War Memorial, specifically "Peace" (also known as Victory{{cite book |last1=Borg |first1=Alan |title=War Memorials: From Antiquity to Present |publisher=Leo Cooper, Ltd |location=London |year=1991 |page=100 |isbn=085052363X}} {{ISBN|9780850523638}}.) were exhibited by Angel at The Royal Academy in 1922, being exhibited in the courtyard of Burlington House, as were other studies of the Bridgwater War Memorial on several occasions.
On the third step these words are inscribed: "IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF BRIDGWATER WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–1918"
The memorial was unveiled by General the Earl of Cavan (then [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|
Chief of the Imperial General Staff]]) on 25 September 1924,{{cite web|title=War Memorial|url=http://www.bridgwater.net/Town/About_Town/Album/war_memorial.htm|publisher=Bridgwater.net|accessdate=8 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911060700/http://www.bridgwater.net/Town/About_Town/Album/war_memorial.htm|archive-date=11 September 2011|url-status=dead}} to commemorate the fallen of World War I. Further names have been added following World War II, the Korean War. Falklands Conflict{{cite web |url=http://www.ww2museums.com/article/9192/War-Memorial-Bridgwater.htm |title=War Memorial Bridgwater |publisher=ww2museums.com|accessdate=9 September 2012}} and the Afghan conflict.Killed in Afghanistan in 2006, Sergeant Benjamin James Knight was added. See War Memorials Trust, infra. He was one of 14 British servicemen lost in the 2 September 2006 crash of the Royal Air Force Nimrod XV230 aircraft. {{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/nimrod-losses-xv230.htm|title=Nimrod Losses – XV230|publisher=Globalsecurity.org|accessdate=9 September 2012}} {{cite news |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/FourteenPersonnelInAfghanistanNimrodCrashNamed.htm |title=News Article: Fourteen personnel in Afghanistan Nimrod crash named |date=3 September 2006 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |accessdate=9 September 2012 |archive-date=9 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009235604/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/FourteenPersonnelInAfghanistanNimrodCrashNamed.htm |url-status=dead }} See also, British Forces casualties in Afghanistan since 2001. It has been characterised as, "An exceptionally fine and moving memorial, which forms an important focal point to this fine late Georgian square."
In 2009 the memorial benefited from a small stipend from War Memorials Trust, which was used to replace bronze plaques and add a new one. The new plaques are said to be a precise match in form and typeface for those that were replaced.
See also
Bibliography
=Footnotes=
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}
=References=
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Somerset/Bridgwater.html Photos of the dedication of the memorial, and memorial Roll of Honor]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Monuments and memorials in Somerset
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1924
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Sedgemoor
Category:British military memorials and cemeteries
Category:Bronze sculptures in England
Category:World War I memorials in England
Category:World War II memorials in England