Edgar Mobbs War Memorial

First World War memorial. Erected in 1921, by Alfred Turner.

MATERIALS: Bronze sculpture on Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the Edgar Mobbs War Memorial comprises a draped female figure in bronze, representing the Goddess of Fame, or the Glory of the Dead, holding a laurel wreath in her left hand and a staff in her right. The figure stands on a 6m tall cenotaph, itself stood on a three stepped base. The front (east) face of the cenotaph holds a bronze bust of Lt Col Mobbs in uniform, with a wreath behind his head. The south face depicts a rugby match, and the north face depicts men in battle. Contemporary reports state that the central figure in each represents Mobbs, but the depictions are not rendered in enough detail to identify individuals.

The east face of the cenotaph is inscribed: LIEUT – COL / EDGAR R MOBBS / D.S.O. / COMMANDING OFFICER / 7TH BATTALION / NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT / KILLED IN ACTION / JULY 31ST 1917 / AGED 35 / O VALIANT HEARTS WHO TO YOUR GLORY CAME, / THROUGH DUST OF CONFLICT AND THROUGH BATTLE FLAME / TRANQUIL YOU LIE YOUR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE PROVED / YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED.

The bust itself is inscribed: HE DID HIS / DUTY / EVEN UNTO / DEATH.

The reverse of the monument is inscribed: ERECTED BY SUBSCRIPTIONS / OF ADMIRERS THE WORLD OVER / TO THE MEMORY OF A / GREAT AND GALLANT / SOLDIER SPORTSMAN / WHEN THE GREAT WAR BROKE OUT / HE FOUNDED / "MOBBS COMPANY" / JOINED AS A PRIVATE AND ROSE / TO COMMAND THE BATTALION / TO WHICH IT BELONGED.