Sutton Coldfield War Memorial

A civic war memorial, designed by Francis Doyle-Jones and unveiled in November 1922.

MATERIALS & PLAN: Dalbeattie granite and sandstone plinth with a bronze statue and plaques.

PLAN: the plinth is square on plan and the statue shows a figure of a soldier to full height.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial faces east and takes the form of a bronze, full-length statue of a soldier in battle dress, standing on a granite plinth which has bronze plaques attached to its front and flanks. The platform has two steps formed of large slabs of granite. Above this the plinth is square in section with a wider portion to its base which has alternating projecting and recessed quoins to the corners. At the centre of each front are large bronze plaques with lettering in relief. To the upper part of the east face of the plinth the plaque reads; ‘ERECTED TO THE / GLORIOUS MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF / SUTTON / COLDFIELD / WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1919 / THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE’. To the top of this plaque are two coloured enamel armorials on crossed shields. On a separate plaque, below this is inscribed ‘ALSO TO THOSE WHO / FELL IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945’ and a third plaque to the base of the plinth gives the names of the fallen in the Second World War. To the top of the plinth on the east side is a carved oval laurel wreath with crossed torches, in relief. The flanks and rear have similar bronze plaques which record the fallen from the First World War. The bronze statue shows a soldier, wearing great coat and helmet with his gas mask holder at the front, water bottle to the side and back pack. His crossed hands lean on his rifle. Surrounding the monument, and enclosing flower beds, is a square, walled enclosure of squared rubble sandstone with coping, which appears to be a later addition.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 18 January 2017.