The Great War memorial
Unveiling event
HRH Duke of Kent will officially unveil the Great War Memorial to Nottinghamshire’s fallen on Friday 28 June 2019.
The service on the Victoria Embankment will commence at 10.00am and come to an end at 11.30am.
The memorial is being constructed on the Victoria Embankment next to the memorial built between 1923 and 1927 on land bequeathed in perpetuity by Jesse Boot. It will feature the names of all 13,501 from Nottinghamshire who lost their lives in the 1914 – 18 War, as well as civilian casualties, including nurses, two people killed in a Zeppelin air raid in September 1916 and the victims of the Chilwell shell filling factory explosion of July 1918.
Councillor Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said “The unveiling of a memorial to the brave people of Nottinghamshire who lost their lives in the Great War is long overdue and I’m delighted that families from across the county will now have a permanent place to pay their respects to their loved ones,”
“I am hugely proud of Nottinghamshire’s Roll of Honour which details the 13,482 men and women, we owe each and every one of them a huge debt of gratitude.”
The design
The World War One memorial is thought to be the first of its kind in the country, following the poignant centenary of the day the guns fell silent.
The new memorial will be an elevated, circular design allowing a protected space for reflection.
A five metre high inscribed monument will feature in the middle of the memorial, explaining the purpose of the memorial.
There will be space lower down for poppies to be placed in the lead up to future Remembrance Days and other events.
Lighting underneath these holes will create a stunning effect at night for visitors.
Currently, there are hundreds of individual memorials to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire's Great War fallen. These are scattered across the county and further afield in parks, workplaces, churches and other locations. But there is nowhere that brings together all of their names in one place.
Names of the fallen will be etched into the circular stone surrounding the monument, with lighting atop the ring to illuminate the surface and the names to attract visitors and to allow quiet reflection at any time.
Space has been built in to the monument for wreaths, poppies and memorials, and the names will be visible for both able and disabled visitors.
Who's been involved
The memorial has been commissioned by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, working with the seven district and borough councils; Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, Rushcliffe.
The project also received generous donations from local businesses and residents. If you'd like to donate to the Roll of Honour use the link below.
Councillor Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "The outpouring of emotional tributes and remembrance events over the last few days, weeks and for many years previous show that this country and our county holds its armed forces in high esteem. We remain eternally grateful for the sacrifices they have made – and continue to make – on our behalf.