Hoylake And West Kirby War Memorial

A First World War war memorial erected in 1922, designed by architects Hall & Glover and the renowned sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger. The monument is constructed of Cornish granite and natural red sandstone, featuring inlaid bronze lettering and bronze figurative sculpture. Later plaques commemorating the Second World War and subsequent conflicts have been added.

The memorial stands on Grange Hill, one of the highest points in the Wirral, commanding views across the surrounding landscape, Liverpool Bay, Liverpool and Wales.

The principal structure is a colossal four-sided obelisk with curved shoulders, mounted upon a stepped granite base and a massive T-shaped pedestal. The front (west) face features a larger than life-size bronze figure of a robed woman representing 'Humanity', standing upon a globe set on a squat cross-shaped granite plinth and square pedestal inscribed with the dates 1914–1919. The woman holds a wreath of twigs and poppies, and hangs broken chains from her wrists. Her head rests against a pillow of lilies, and above her chest is a small oval form (mandorla) containing a baby that looks downward through the wreath. The obelisk's curved shoulders flanking the lower half of this figure are inscribed with names of those killed in the First World War, with further names inscribed on the north and south faces.

The centre of the pedestal beneath 'Humanity' bears a granite plaque with the inscription: "AT THE CALL OF KING AND COUNTRY THEY LEFT ALL / THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM, ENDURED HARDNESS, FACED DANGER, / AND FINALLY PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF MEN BY THE / PATH OF DUTY AND SELF SACRIFICE, GIVING UP THEIR / OWN LIVES THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM / LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT / THAT THEIR NAMES BE NOT FORGOTTEN". A smaller plaque beneath records the dates 1939–1945. Larger plaques on the flanking pedestal arms bear names of those killed during the Second World War. A plaque on the rear (east) face of the southern pedestal arm records names of those killed in conflicts since the Second World War; the corresponding plaque on the north pedestal arm remains blank.

The rear (east) face of the obelisk displays a larger than life-size bronze figure of a soldier ('Soldier on Defence'), representing redemption and sacrifice. The soldier stands with legs astride, dressed in full battle attire including gas mask, putties and water bottle, his helmet pushed back from his head. He carries a rifle horizontally across his waist, with a German helmet lying in mud at his feet. A bayonet from the rifle is retained in storage but returned for Armistice Day memorial services as an integral part of the composition. The base of the obelisk steps down to the eastern side, and the inscription below 'Soldier on Defence' reads: "IN GRATITUDE TO GOD AND / TO THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM / THESE PARTS WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914–1919–1939–1945 / THEY WERE A WALL UNTO US / BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY".

The final two sentences of Rudyard Kipling's poem 'For All We Have And Are' are carved into the obelisk faces above the figures. Beginning on the east face and continuing in anti-clockwise direction, the inscription with sunken background reads: "WHO STANDS IF / FREEDOM FALL / WHO DIES IF / ENGLAND LIVE".

The entire memorial sits upon a natural red sandstone platform and is enclosed by black railings. A stair flight is carved into the natural bedrock at the north-west corner, and a small paved platform enclosed by black railings to the west side provides a space from which the Bishop leads memorial services. A memorial garden comprising a large grassed area with planted shrubs and bushes lies to the west side below the memorial.

The monument was designed by Hall & Glover and Charles Sargeant Jagger, who began work on the commission in 1919. The bronze was cast at the foundry of A.B. Burton, and the total cost was approximately £7,500. Jagger was recommended to the Hoylake & West Kirby War Memorial committee by the sculptor Sir George Frampton. This was his first monument commission, following his work on two massive bronze reliefs entitled 'The First Battle of Ypres' (1918–1919, now in the Imperial War Museum) and 'No Man's Land' (1919–1923, presented to the Tate in 1923).

The 'Soldier on Defence' figure was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1921 and generated numerous commissions for Jagger internationally, including the Grade II* listed Royal Artillery Memorial erected at Hyde Park Corner, London in 1925. A re-casting of the 'Soldier on Defence' was subsequently used as part of the 'Driver and Wipers' memorial at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, Australia.

The memorial was unveiled on 16 December 1922 by the Earl of Birkenhead. Thirty-seven names not inscribed on the monument are recorded in the parish church.