đź“Ť Cheltenham War Memorial
Situated in front of the Municipal Offices, in the center of Cheltenham's graceful Promenade, the Cheltenham War Memorial honours the town's men and women who sacrificed their lives for their nation.
Following a public design competition, the memorial was created by the local firm R. L. Boulton & Sons and unveiled by General Sir Robert Fanshawe in October, 1921. Funding constraints forced the design to be scaled down from its original scope, yet its influence has persisted for more than a century. The single woman named on the memorial, Elizabeth Roberts, is one of 1,297 people who lost their lives during World War I.
The memorial is made of Portland stone and has a tall obelisk that rises from a plinth and base with three steps. It is encircled by formal balustrades and flooring. Alongside the carved sword and wreath on the east face represent sacrifice, a heartfelt dedication reads:
"Remember the men of Cheltenham who gave their lives for you in the Great War… served and wrought and died… as a Band of Brothers. Learn from them so to live and die that… you may… be remembered and regretted."
Engraved on the base's four sides are the names of the fallen. Other plaques on the neighboring low walls commemorate individuals who died in the Falklands Conflict, the Korean War as well as the Second World War.
A thoughtful memorial space is created by the memorial's placement within the Long Garden, a formal lawn surrounded by other historic monuments like the Edward Wilson statue and the Boer War Memorial. With the magnificent Grade II* listed Municipal Offices serving as its backdrop, it is a part of Cheltenham's larger civic legacy.
For the centennial of the First World War, the memorial received extensive repair from 2014 to 2016, which included new lighting, re-engraving, stonework cleaning, and a public interpretation board. In order to maintain the site's dignity and accessibility, conservation experts also later performed renovations in 2022 and 2023.
đź’¬ A Personal Note
For me, this memorial has particular significance. Among those honoured here is my great-great-uncle Henry Charles Wright, who tragically passed away during World War II. One of the plaques on the wall in front of the obelisk bears his name. I've included this cache here as a way to pay tribute to him and give you a little piece of his legacy.
The listed co-ordinates take you to the war memorial where you will need to collect some information to help guide you to the final cache location. The cache itself is NOT at the posted location!
Your tasks:
As mentioned above, H.C Wright of the Glosters Regiment can be found on one of the plaques infront on the memorial. What was his position in the regiment? Number of letters =Â A
On this same plaque, you will find a commemoration of many other men that fell during multiple wars. How many are listed to have fallen during the war in Korea? = B
Now turn to face the memorial, looking at only the front face. How many people held the surname Davis = C
On the left of the memorial you will find a number of commemorative paving stones on the floor, for recipients of the victoria cross. How many stones are there? =Â D
And finally, on the rear of the memorial you will find another inscription. What date in October was the memorial unveiled? = E
Â
You can find the final cache a short walk away at:
N 51 5D. (B+D) D (A-A)Â Â W002 0C. B (B+E) (A-E)
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Just-Us-Two know first at justustwo1013@gmail.com so they can keep track of the memorial numbers and names to avoid any duplication.