Brierley Hill War Memorial

The Brierley Hill War Memorial commemorates those who died in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War, the Cyprus Emergency, and the Malayan Emergency, and was unveiled in 1921 with subsequent additions. It was designed by Councillor JT Fereday and Francis Lane, with carving by George Brown & Sons of Kidderminster.

The monument is constructed from limestone for the platform, grey granite for the plinth, and Sicilian marble for the corner columns, relief panels, and the statue. Its plan consists of a tall, square plinth supporting a statue, with railings around the edge rising from a raised curb.

Each face of the plinth is divided into two stages, both featuring corner columns. The stages are separated by a lintel, above which is a carved relief panel depicting scenes of service activity, and below which are the names of 205 individuals who died in the First World War. The north face bears a lengthy inscription recording the dedication of the memorial and commending the Brierley Hill men who lost their lives in defence of the country and civilization against Germany, Austria, and Turkey between August 4th 1914 and November 11th 1918. Above this inscription is a relief panel showing soldiers advancing from trenches. The lintel upon it is inscribed 'FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS', and the plinth displays the word 'FLANDERS'.

The west side presents a weathered relief panel depicting the sinking of a German warship by the ship Arethusa and the subsequent rescue of survivors. The lintel below it reads 'FOR HOMELAND', and the plinth bears the word 'GALLIPOLI'. The east side shows artillery in action, with 'FOR KINDRED' inscribed on the lintel and 'PALESTINE' on the plinth. The south side portrays a wounded man being treated on a stretcher, with "FOR FREEDOM" inscribed on the lintel and "FRANCE" on the plinth.

The statue of the soldier positioned above depicts him in uniform, charging with a fixed bayonet. The top step of the limestone plinth has a cambered upper surface and groups of three flutings to its riser on each side.

Later, angled tablets have been placed between the platform and the curb, commemorating the dead from the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Cyprus and Malayan Emergencies. The curb is flanked by three cast iron mace finials on each side, which now support later panels of wrought iron and were likely originally adorned with decorative chains. The curb’s south face is inscribed with ‘G BROWN & SONS / SCULPTORS / KIDDR. & ST.BRIDGE.’