Gilbert'S Monument

Gilbert's Monument is a memorial built in 1856 in Bodmin to honor Lieutenant General Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert. The monument is a granite ashlar obelisk that stands 144 feet high on a moulded pedestal base, featuring inscriptions on each side and steel reinforcing straps at intervals along the shaft.

The south side of the monument is inscribed with a detailed tribute to Gilbert, highlighting his military career, including his service in the Bengal Army and his significant contributions during the Battles of Moodkee, Ferozshah, and Sobraon in 1845 and 1846, as well as his role in the Punjab campaigns of Chillianwala and Goojerat in 1849. The inscription notes that he compelled the Sikh Chiefs to surrender in Rawal Pindee and drove their Afghan allies across the Indus River, effectively concluding the war. For his distinguished services, he was made a Baronet and awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Bath by the Queen. The Houses of Parliament recognized his contributions with votes of thanks, and he was appointed to the Supreme Council in India. The monument was erected at the request of his fellow townsmen in Bodmin by his companions in arms and friends, reflecting their admiration for his public service and personal qualities.

Additional inscriptions on the monument include the years "1856 and 1857," the name E Gilbert Hamley, Mayor, and details of Walter Raleigh Gilbert's birth in March 1785 and death on May 10, 1853.