The Regimental War Memorial in the Church
To the right of the north door is the impressive Memorial to those
who died in the First World War. In 1919 a committee composed
of past and present officers and non-commissioned officers of
the Regiment, under the Presidency of Major-General Sir E O F
Hamilton, KCB., then Colonel of the Regiment, was assembled to
consider the erection of a fitting War Memorial.
It was not possible to obtain a suitable site in the open air,
so it was decided that the memorial should be placed on the north
wall of Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, close to the Regimental
Chapel.
After consideration of several alternative designs, the committee
accepted that submitted by Captain E Stanley Hall, MA, FRIBA.,
an officer who had served with the 10th Bn The Queen’s.
The work was completed in 1921, and the dedication and unveiling
took place on June 4th. The memorial was dedicated by the Right
Rev. E S Talbot, DD., Bishop of Winchester, and unveiled by General
Sir Charles Monro, Bart., GCB., GCSI., GCMG., Colonel of the Regiment.
The address was delivered by the Right Rev L H Burrows, DD., Bishop
of Sheffield, and fourteen local Clergy assisted.
Before the service began the Colours of the 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions
were laid on the altar for safe keeping, and were afterwards placed
in position over the Memorial. Because of their deteriorating
condition these Colours were removed to the Regimental Museum
in 1967.
The Memorial consists of a central niche in which rests the bronze
and glass casket, containing the Books of Life which record the
names of the officers and men who died in the service of their
country from 1914 to 1959.
In the Tympanum above the niche is placed the regimental badge,
the Paschal Lamb (one of the oldest in the British Army), the
mottoes and secondary badges being inlaid in the frieze and elsewhere.
Below the badge is inscribed in inlaid letters:-
IN MEMORY THE QUEEN’S, 1914-1919.
Below the casket is the following inscription:-
TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF 8,000 OFFICERS,WARRANT OFFICERS,
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE QUEEN’S WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN FLANDERS, FRANCE, ITALY, GALLIPOLI,
SALONIKA, MESOPOTAMIA, PALESTINE, EGYPT, INDIA, AFRICA AND IN
GERMANY, 1914-1919 WHOSE NAMES ARE IN THE BOOK OF LIFE. THE MEMORIAL
IS ERECTED BY THEIR RELATIVES, COMRADES, AND FRIENDS.
Two carved oak Corinthian columns support the tympanum. The Battle
Honours of the Regiment are incised on panels on either side of
the niche, and the whole of the central portion is raised on two
steps of blue Honiton stone, while on each side oak panelling
36 feet long and 11 feet 3 inches high is placed.
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