"TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE & ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTARY RESERVE SERVING IN THE AUXILIARY PATROL & MINESWEEPERS AT HARWICH WHO DIED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES THAT THE SEAS MIGHT BE MADE FREE"
The Royal Naval Reserve and RNVR Auxiliary Patrol and Minesweepers Memorial - Harwich takes the form of a column with protruding corners. There are bronze plaques on the four sides of the column. Above the protruding corners there are bronze dolphins, with the whole standing on an octagonal base. Adjacent to the memorial is a small garden of Remembrance containing a flower planter and a dedicatory tablet. Attached to the memorial are two plaques with the names of 127 crew members of 15 vessels that were lost in World War One. The memorial is constructed from limestone.
Limestone.
Limestone is a form of sedimentary rock in which the main source of the material is lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals Calcite and aragnoite which are different crystal forms of CaCO3. Limestone forms when these minerals precipitate out of water containing dissolved calcium. This can take place through both biological and nonbiological processes, though biological processes, such as the accumulation of corals and shells in the sea, have likely been more important for the last 540 million years. This is why limestone often contains fossils which provide scientists with information on pre-historic environments and on the evolution of life. Most grains in limestone are skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral. These organisms secrete structures made of aragonite or calcite, and leave these structures behind when they die. Most limestone was formed in shallow marine environments, such as continental shelves, though smaller amounts were formed in many other environments. Most limestone, like the limestone used in this memorial is white to grey in colour. The famous white cliffs of Dover as in the wartime song by Dame Vera Lynn are limestone. As mentioned, Limestone often contains fossils, typically shells. The fossils that you can see in this Memorial are Bivalves.
Bivalves.
Bivalves are a type of mollusc. A mollusc can be defined as any animal that has a soft body, no spine, and usually covered with a shell. A Bivalve mollusc gets its name as it has a two part hinged shell. Oysters, clams mussels and scallops are all examples of bivalves.
Bivalves make their own shells. An internal organ called the mantle secretes calcium carbonate so that as the inner invertebrate grows, the outer shell provides a roomier home.
Fossil bivalves were formed when the sediments in which they were buried hardened into rock. Many closely resemble living forms, which helps us to understand how they must have lived.
The Task
There are many bivalve fossils that can be seen in the limestone that the memorial was constructed from, most can be seen at the north west corner, but the best example can be found in the south east corner, the one that points in the direction of the small lighthouse in the sea. (With your back to the sea, and facing the memorial it would be the corner to your left).
Please study this corner of the War Memorial and answer these simple questions;
1. There is one very prominant bivalve fossil in the corner, below the bronze dolfin. Can it be found in the first, second, third or fourth block above ground level, and estimate how high above the ground level it is. Imperial or metric can be used, whichever you prefer.
2. What is the width of this fossil would you say?
3. Please describe as best you can the colour and texture of the limestone. Also are the blocks uniform in colour or are there subtle differences, and if you think that there are please give an expalnation.
4. COMPULSORY. Please take a picture of yourself, your GPS device or a personal item or a photo at GZ with your name visible, with the sea or war memorial in the background but please be careful that your picture does not give away any answers.
Please feel free to log a find straight after you have sent me your answers. All answers will be looked at and if there are any issues I will contact you. ANY found logs without a photo and any found logs without answers submitted within a reasonable period will be deleted. This is to ensure fairness to those cachers who do complete the tasks required.
***** PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT *****
CACHES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE PLACED ON ACTUAL MEMORIALS OR WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF SUCH
AT ALL TIMES PLEASE TREAT LOCATIONS OF MEMORIALS WITH RESPECT