The Royal Naval Division War Memorial

The Royal Naval Division War Memorial

This Portland stone memorial commemorates the Royal Naval Division and takes the form of two round basins stacked vertically, with an obelisk rising from the upper basin. The structure sits within a large square plinth decorated with military emblems and inscriptions. The base is integrated into the balustrade of the Civil Service Department Offices (former Admiralty Offices) on its north and east sides, though the monument is now somewhat enclosed by the south-east corner of The Citadel.

The obelisk crowning the memorial is carved in relief at its base with the insignia of the Division. Below, water spouts issue from carved lion heads. The large square plinth is divided into three horizontal sections. The top section supporting the lower round basin is decorated on its south and west sides with small square incised panels, each bearing the badge of units which served in the Division, nine panels on each side.

The central section of the plinth, separated from the top by moulding, is divided into three panels with the central panel projecting slightly forward. On the south face, the west panel bears the inscription SALONICA 1916, the east panel FRANCE AND BELGIUM 1916-1918, whilst the central panel reads IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND OTHER RANKS OF THE ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION with an incised Latin cross above, flanked by the dates 1914 and 1918.

On the west face, the north panel is inscribed ANTWERP 1914, the south panel GALLIPOLI 1915-16. The central panel contains a verse by Rupert Brooke: BLOW OUT YOU BUGLES OVER THE RICH DEAD / THERE'S NONE OF THESE SO LONELY AND POOR OF OLD / BUT, DYING, HAS MADE US RARER GIFTS THAN GOLD / THESE LAID THE WORLD AWAY, POURED OUT THE RED / SWEET WINE OF YOUTH, GAVE UP THE YEARS TO BE / OF WORK AND JOY, AND THAT UNHOPED SERENE, / THAT MEN CALL AGE. AND THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN / THEIR SONS THEY GAVE THEIR IMMORTALITY. / RUPERT BROOKE 1887-1915 / HOOD BATTALION.

The narrow base section of the plinth is largely unadorned except for the inscriptions BENBOW AND COLLINGWOOD in the north and south corners of the west face respectively. Two additional unit badges, added in 1931 by sculptor Frederick J Wilcoxson, appear below the central panel on the south face.

To the east of the plinth, on the extension connecting the memorial to the Old Admiralty Building, is the inscription THIS MEMORIAL DESIGNED BY SIR EDWIN LUTYENS / WAS UNVEILED ON THE HORSE GUARDS PARADE AT THE / CORNER OF THE ADMIRALTY ON / APRIL 25TH 1925 THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF / THE LANDING ON GALLIPOLI. Below this, an incised panel records REMOVED IN 1940, ERECTED IN GREENWICH IN 1951 AND REINSTATED ON THIS SITE IN 2003.