TOPIC:

CURRENT LOCATION:
RIVERSLEY PARK,
COTON ROAD,
NUNEATON,
WARWICKSHIRE,
CV11 5TU,
ENGLAND.

OS Grid Reference: SP36342 91471.

PREVIOUS LOCATION:
BOND GATE,
NUNEATON,
WARWICKSHIRE,
ENGLAND.
The original bronze memorial was stolen from the Bond Gate site location in November 2006. A local sculptor offered to sculpt a replacement without charge. Following the local council heading a process of public consultation, the replacement sculpture was erected in 2008.

A view from the front of the memorial located within a well kept park garden in front of the Nuneaton Museum.

















I quote from the Imperial War Museum website of memorials:
"Two-stepped rough-hewn base surmounted by a rough-hewn, square sectioned, slightly tapering plinth topped with a bevelled-edged capstone. Mounted on the capstone is a sculpted bronze statue of a soldier wearing Boer War Campaign dress with a slouch hat tipped back, loading his rifle whilst staring ahead. Plaque on front face of plinth."

INSCRIPTION AS FOLLWS:
"ERECTED TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF NUNEATON,WHO AT THE CALL OF DUTY WENT FORTH TO FIGHT THEIR COUNTRY'S BATTLES IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE YEARS 1899-1992. BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION THROUGH THE AGENCY OF THE MIDLAND COUNTIES TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER."

Of the 53 men named on the bronze plaques, 48 served and returned. The other 5 men made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives whilst on campaign.
Their names are as found on the bronze plaques this:

PLAQUE RIGHT OF FRONT

REGULARS
PTE C.TASSELL ROYAL FUSILIERS
PTE JAMES THOMPSON 2ND BATT 58TH NORTH STAFFS REGT.
PTE THOMAS MUNTON 2ND BATT NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGT.
PTE THOMAS BLOXHEM RAMC

DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PTE W. JEPHCOTE, 'A' COY ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS
SERGT ALBERT E. STONES, 14TH KINGS HUSSARS
PTE JOHN SMITH, 17TH LANCERS
PTE HODKINS, 1ST DERBYSHIRE REGIMENT
PTE FAIRFIELD, SERVICE COMPANY

REGULARS (CONT'D)

LIEUT. BRIAN EVANS, 1ST BATT. 5TH NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
LIEUT. GEOFFREY CHARLES EVANS, 3RD WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
PTE. HENRY ADAMS, 26TH LANCERS

PLAQUE LEFT OF FRONT

YEOMANRY

CPL. CAMPBELL BLAIR
L/CPL. JOHN CLEAVER
L/CPL. JGP DEACON
TPR. GR BAILEY
TPR. MW BROWNSON
TPR. F BAYLISS
TPR. HYCROFTS
TOR. W DAULMAN
TPR. FREDERICK HOROBIN
TPR. CHAS. LEA
TPR. L SMITH
TPR. ERNEST WHEETMAN
TPR. WILLIAM MEAKIN

DRISCOLL'S SCOUTS
TPR. R GLOVER

SRV
CPL. JH VEASEY

RAM CORPS
COMPOUND OG LIFFE

VET. LIEUT F S CLAY

VOLUNTEERS
LT. JAS M KNOX
SERGT. TG MORETON
PRIVATE ISAAC BATES
PRIVATE JAMES FAIRFIELD
PRIVATE GEORGE GREEN
PRIVATE WM HOLLOWAY
PRIVATE SH LUCOCK
PRIVATE T MARGETTS
PRIVATE JAMES PAYNE
PRIVATE J BUCKLER
PRIVATE E THORNE
PRIVATE E WASHBOURNE

AMBULANCE
SERGT. TJ HAYES
SERGT. JOHN RYAN
SERGT. J WHEWAY
PRIVATE W CRAMPHORN
PRIVATE JOHN T DAY
PRIVATE JOSEPH HACKETT
PRIVATE FK.A HOLTHAM
PRIVATE JH JOHNSON
PRIVATE ALBERT PARKER
PRIVATE FAE TAYLOR
PRIVATE R TITE

The description of the memorial is finished with the small plaque to the rear inscribed:

"THIS STATUE ERECTED IN OCTOBER 2008 IS A REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL WHICH WAS STOLEN IN NOVEMBER 2006.
THE REPLACEMENT WAS COMMISSIONED AT THE BEHEST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOROUGH OF NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH.
SCULPTOR: ALAN BEATTIE HERRIOT"

In summary, a memorial in excellent order, situated in a very pleasant town park in Nuneaton and well worth a visit with parking at a very reasonable cost a couple of hundred yards away from the statue.

I am currently looking at the histories of the men named thereon, with a view to posting here in the not too distant future.
Any biography or further information regarding the above from the forum members would be most welcome to add to this thread.

PS. I have no idea if the unscrupulous thieves were ever apprehended!

Hi Steve,

Found this great old postcard online, and comparing this image on the postcard to the new statue shows that the artist has certainly outdone him/herself and created a fantastic statue to replace the original.


Boer War Memorial , known locally as "Old Bill". This bronze statue, unveiled on 28 Jan 1905, was stolen from Riversley Park on 14 November 2006.

Trev

Hi Trev,
A great old postcard Indeed. I do like to try and pick these up after I have visited an ABW memorial.
Cheers Steve

Another old postcard of the original 'Old Bill' South African War Memorial at Nuneaton, postmarked 21st January 1909.
Looks like an autumn portrait owing to few leaves on the tree in the distance!