Burton upon Trent War Memorial

The memorial comprises a 2.25m high bronze winged Victory figure balancing on top of a bronze globe, raising a downward-pointing sword in its right hand and holding a laurel wreath in its left. This stand upon a 4.5m high, 2.4m wide, 1.8m deep ornate Classical Portland stone square-sectioned pedestal, which has cherubs with winged helmets at the four corners.

The pedestal carries bronze relief inscription plaques to the front and back faces, and bronze figures of St George (with foot on a dragon, whole 1.8m high) and a classical figure of Peace (holding a dove, whole 1.8m high) to either side.

The inscription on the front plaque reads: TO THE GLORIOUS/ AND IMMORTAL MEMORY/ OF THE OFFICERS/ NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS/ AND MEN OF/ BURTON UPON TRENT / WHO SERVED/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1919/ IN DEFENCE OF/ THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ AND GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE VICTORY/ OF HONOUR AND FREEDOM/ OVER TERROR AND OPPRESSION/THEIR IMPERISHABLE NAMES/ ARE RECORDED ON THE WALLS / OF THE TOWN HALL/ OF THIS COUNTY BOROUGH/ AN EXAMPLE / TO THOSE/ WHO COME HEREAFTER.

The inscription on the back reads: TO BURTONS HEROES/ HONOUR/ TO THE IMMORTAL DEAD/ THAT GREAT WHITE/ COMPANY/ OF SHINING SOULS/ WHO GAVE THEIR YOUTH/ THAT THE WORLD MIGHT/ GROW OLD IN PEACE/ 1914 1919.

The later plaque reads: REMEMBERING ALSO/ THOSE WHO DIED/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 1945.

The whole is on a tiered three-stepped base, surrounded by a low wall that forms a spacious terrace enclosure for the monument.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 5 October 2017.