Princess Anne leads the rededication Southport War Memorial to commemorate its 100th Anniversary - Part 1 of 2

ON Friday, 29 September 2023, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, attended the officially rededication of Southport's War Memorial to commemorate its 100th Anniversary of its installation.

After £30,000 was raised to build the memorial it was erected and then unveiled on:- 18 November 1923, by the Earl of Derby, along with 320 children whose parents had been tragically killed on the battlefields in World War 1. Located in London Square, on Lord Street, in the heart of Southport's Town Centre, the War Memorial comprises a:- 20.6 meter (67 feet 6 inches) obelisk, that is flanked by 2 colonnades, in the form of Greek temples, along with public memorial gardens, each containing a Pool of Remembrance, and fountains. The colonnades and obelisk are both constructed in Portland Stone, the sculpture and lettered panels are in Meuriel Marble. This impressive structure was designed by the local architects Grayson and Barnish, and the carving was executed by Herbert Tyson Smith.

Since it was 1st built to commemorate the Great War, hundreds more were added following World War 2, and from conflicts around the world since then, including:- in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The structure is now 1 of the largest outside of London, and was placed on the listed building register, on:- 15 November 1972, and later designated a Grade II* listed building, on the National Heritage List for England, on:- 5 March 2010.

Taking part in this rededication of The Monument, at a Drumhead Service, along with Princess Anne were representatives of the Armed Forces, both past and present, along with children from 27 local School.

Before the service and after the Drumhead Service, Parades took place, with both the School children, along with the Armed Forces representatives, and Veterans from across the UK. The Parade included some of the oldest Veterans from Southport, like 102 year old Harry Howorth, who was 1 of and 1st wave of British soldiers to take part in Operation Overlord, during World War II.

These are some of the many photographs we took at the War Memorial's centenary, and we will be including lots more photographs along with our very special 4k video coverage of the full event.

Event organiser, Major Nick McEntee TD VR REME and Chairman of the Royal British Legion, Southport, said:- "I would like to thank all of you who came to the rededication of our Southport War Memorial. We hope that this event will help us all to remember that the hundreds of names on the Monument were local people, who gave there lives to keep us safe. Many of whose relatives who are listed on the Memorial are still living in Southport, and we all have a duties to remember the sacrifice of those family members. We are also extremely pleased that Her Royal Highness was able to attend the event in her capacity as President of the Women's Section of the Royal British Legion."

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We will remember them...