Royal Artillery Memorial of the South African War

The Royal Artillery Memorial of the South African War is a regimental war memorial constructed between 1906 and 1910. The design of the pedestal and concave screen wall is attributed to Sir Aston Webb, while the sculptural elements were created by William Colton ARA.

The memorial is built from a granite plinth supporting a Portland stone structure, incorporating bronze sculpture and relief panels. It faces north onto The Mall and features a crescent-shaped screen wall to its south side. The monument is situated in St James’s Park, south of The Mall, aligning with the Duke of York Column (Grade I) and the Statue of King Edward VII (Grade II).

The north front is set on a shaped plinth which projects toward the pavement and is accessed by five steps. Behind the monument is a wall of plain Portland stone blocks, topped by a moulded cornice and featuring horizontal bronze plaques that form a frieze. These plaques display the inscription “ERECTED BY THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY IN MEMORY OF THEIR HONOURED DEAD. SOUTH AFRICA. 1899-1902.” Stone piers with domed tops and segmental pediments frame the ends of the wall; these piers have bronze initials 'E' and 'R' surrounded by wreaths. Bronze plaques on the north sides of the piers depict scenes of military action - soldiers transporting arms over hilly terrain on the right and the Royal Artillery Corps in action on the left. Further bronze plaques flank these, bearing the names of those who died in relief. At the centre of the raised plinth stands a square pedestal with chamfered corners, topped by a deeply moulded entablature that features relief carvings of gun carriages and horses in motion. Above the plinth, a band of bronze relief displays the regimental mottos: ‘UBIQUE’ (Everywhere) in the centre, with ‘QUO. FAS / ET / GLORIA / DUCUNT’ (Where Right and Glory lead) to either side. A sculpted bronze group surmounts the pedestal, depicting the winged figure of Fame controlling a horse, representing War, by its bridle. The curved rear wall is largely blank, apart from the projecting plinth and cornice.