- Memorial Gates (Constitution Hill)
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The Memorial Gates, looking from Hyde Park Corner along Constitution Hill
The Memorial Gates are a war memorial located at the Hyde Park Corner end of Constitution Hill in London, UK. Also known as the Commonwealth Memorial Gates, they commemorate the armed forces of the British Empire from five regions of the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka), as well as Africa and the Caribbean, who served in the First World War and the Second World War. The memorial was inaugurated in 2002.
Contents
Inscriptions
The main inscription reads:
In memory of the five million volunteers from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean who fought with Britain in the two World Wars.
A shorter inscription quotes the words of the Nigerian author and poet Ben Okri:
“ Our Future is Greater Than Our Past. ” Campaign stones
Also on the Green Park side of the Gates there are two stone slabs, either side of the pavilion, commemorating by name several of the campaigns in which forces from the British Empire fought.
- World War I
- West Africa (West Africa Campaign)
- Egypt (Sinai and Palestine Campaign)
- East Africa (East African Campaign)
- France (Western Front)
- Belgium (Western Front)
- Gallipoli (Gallipoli Campaign)
- Russia (Caucasus Campaign)
- World War II
- India (Operation U-Go)
- Burma (Burma Campaign)
- Malaya (Battle of Malaya)
- Singapore (Battle of Singapore)
- Persia (Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran)
- Hong Kong (Battle of Hong Kong)
- Dutch East Indies (Dutch East Indies Campaign)
Memorial pavilion
The memorial pavilion, also on the Green Park side of Constitution Hill, has a list of those from the named regions who were awarded the George Cross or Victoria Cross in the two World Wars. The 74 names are listed on the ceiling of the small domed pavilion. There are 23 Victoria Cross recipients from World War I listed, 12 George Cross recipients from World War II, and 39 Victoria Cross recipients from World War II.
WWI Victoria Crosses
- Lala
- J. G. Smyth
- J. A. Sinton
- F. A. de Pass
- J. F. P. Butler
- W. H. Hewitt
- Kulbir Thapa
- W. A. McC. Bruce
- G. G. M. Wheeler
- Khudadad Khan
- Gabbar Singh Negi
- Karanbahadur Rana
- Mir Dast
- E. Jotham
- F. C. Booth
- W. F. Faulds
- Badlu Singh
- G. C. Wheeler
- Chatta Singh
- Gobind Singh
- W. A. Bloomfield
- Shahamad Khan
- Darwan Singh Negi
WWII George Crosses
- Pir Khan
- S. Latutin
- Kirpa Ram
- Ditto Ram
- St J. G. Young
- H. P. Seagrim
- Islam-ud-Din
- Subramanian
- Abdul Rehman
- Matreen Ahmed Ansari
- Mahmood Khan Durrani
- Noor-un-Nisa Inayat-Khan
WWII Victoria Crosses
- Ali Haidar
- G. R. Norton
- Nand Singh
- Chhelu Ram
- E. C. T. Wilson
- Richpal Ram
- A. E. Cumming
- Namdeo Jadhao
- Ram Sarup Singh
- Parkash Singh
- Bhanbhagta Gurung
- Netrabahadur Thapa
- Premindra Singh Bhagat
- E. Swales
- Sher Shah
- N. G. Leakey
- Gaje Ghale
- M. Allmand
- Abdul Hafiz
- Agansing Rai
- Bhandari Ram
- Thaman Gurung
- Parkash Singh
- Yeshwant Ghadge
- Sherbahadur Thapa
- Sefanaia Sukanaivalu
- Fazal Din
- F. G. Blaker
- Gian Singh
- Kamal Ram
- C. Raymond
- Ganju Lama
- Umrao Singh
- J. D. Nettleton
- Q. G. M. Smythe
- Tul Bahadur Pun
- Lalbahadur Thapa
- Lachhiman Gurung
- Karamjeet Singh Judge
Planning, construction and inauguration
The plans for the memorial were made by the Memorial Gates Trust. As inscribed on the memorial, the inaugural patron of the Trust was Charles, Prince of Wales, and the inaugural trustees were: the Baroness Flather (chair), Khalid Aziz, the Lord Inge, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Harpinder Singh Narula, Sir Gulam Noon, Sir Anwar Pervez, the Lord Sandberg, the Viscount Slim, Sir Neil Thorne, and the Lord Weatherill. The architect was Liam O'Connor. Funding was from the National Lottery, provided by the Millennium Commission. Construction of the Memorial Gates began on 1 August 2001, with an inscription commemorating this event on the first stone to be laid - the inscription states that the stone was laid by the Queen Mother. The company contracted to build the memorial was Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, while the stonemasons were CWO Ltd. The Memorial Gates were inaugurated on 6 November 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II with an inscription stating that this took place in the Golden Jubilee year of her reign.
Gallery
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Two of the columns and the Wellington Arch
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The memorial pavilion on the Green Park side
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The George Cross and Victoria Cross names
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The stone listing the World War I campaigns
External links
- Memorial Gates Trust (official website)
- World War I campaigns (Memorial Gates Trust)
- World War II campaigns (Memorial Gates Trust)
- List of Trustees and Vice-Patrons (Memorial Gates Trust)
- Report on the inauguration ceremony (Memorial Gates Trust)
- Additional information on the Memorial Gates (aftermathww1.co.uk)
- Memorial Gates entry (United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials)
- Images showing the George Cross and Victoria Cross recipients: 1, 2.
Categories:- World War I memorials in the United Kingdom
- World War II memorials in the United Kingdom
- Buildings and structures completed in 2002
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