Remembrance and War Memorials

(Photo curtesy of Chris Carr (24 July 2020)

The carved memorial commemorates the animals that died in the first world war.

Carved from wood by a local craftsman, the sculpture was the result of a three year Community Kids Project and was unveiled by Deputy Lieutenant, Dr Nicholas England on 16 November 2019.

The carving features Dove of Our Peace, Joey the War Horse and Budders the Ratter and was designed and carved by local sculptor Paul Sivell from Monterey Cyprus.

 

The carving was blessed as part of VJ celebration on 15 August 2020 by Reverend Mark Williams in a ceremony attended by the Lord Lieutenant Susie Sheldon with town councillors.

Location

The Broadway Centre, The Broadway,

SANDOWN

Isle of Wight

PO36 9GG

By Train:

The centre is 0.4 miles or approximately 10 mins walk from Sandown Station.

By Bus:

The nearest bus stop is at the heights and is just a few minutes from the centre. Routes 2, 3 and 8 serve the stop.

 

The memorial is a Grade II listed First World War memorial erected in 1921 to commemorate the 78 servicemen of the town who gave their lives in the conflict. Later additions were added for the Second World War. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on 25 July 1921 by HRH Princess Beatrice, then Governor of the Isle of Wight.

Designed by Percy Stone and constructed of Portland Stone the memorial cost approximately £560. The base of the memorial is Cornish granite and previously formed a gun mounting in the Yaverland Battery.

The cross also includes two inscriptions: 

"Their name liveth for evermore." (Ecclesiasticus Chp.44 v. 14) and "Each gave a life for you and me" (At the Dawn, Ballads of battle, Lance-Corporal Joseph Lee, 4th Battalion Black Watch).

 

 

List of names inscribed on memorial and link to commonwealth war grave record 

Location: 

Esplanade, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8LA

By Car:

The memorial is a short walk from the Fort Street Car Park, a long stay car park run by the Isle of Wight Council (PO36 8BA). There is also on-street pay and display parking along both Culver Parade and the Esplanade

By Train:

The site is 0.5 miles or approximately 15 mins walk from Sandown Station.

By Bus:

The nearest bus stop is Sandown Highstreet, a few minutes walkaway. Routes 2, 3, 8 and 24 serve the stop.

 

100 Year Commemoration

The esplanade memorial was 100 years old on 25 July 2021. HRH Prince Michael of Kent visited the site to commemorate the centenary as well as the Island’s Lord Lieutenant Susie Sheldon, and the High Sheriff James Attrill DL.

Other guests included members of the Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, descendants of service personnel named on the memorial, the Head of the Bay CE Primary School and pupils from the school with governors Rev Williams and Rev Hall, who presented Prince Michael with a set of mugs specially designed by pupils from the school.

Mug Designs 1 – 30

Mug Designs 31 – 60

A commemorative film, involving local school children has also been made Sandown Memorial - The First 100 Years

The service was delivered by Reverend Mark Williams and Reverend Jonathan Hall with 3 Troop Sandown Cadets providing the Guard, with the Sandown and Shanklin Military Band supporting the service along with Bugler Stuart Kent. 

 

 

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant Caroline Peel attended the event and wreaths were laid by a number of organisations including representatives from the town council, RBL, armed forces,  territorial and reserve forces, uniformed public services, cadet forces, local voluntary groups and youth organisations.

 

 

 

Armistice Day 2021 

Deputy Lord Lieutenant Caroline Peel, and Sandown Town Mayor Paddy Lightfoot, led commemorative events in Sandown on Armistice Day, ahead of Sunday's Remembrance Day services. A short ceremony was held at the memorial.

 

The town council also arranged for children of the Bay CE School to design poppies to be displayed in the library windows.

 

Poppy designs from the Library 1-20

Poppy designs from the Library 21-40

Poppy designs from the Library 41-60

Poppy designs from the Library 61-80

Poppy designs from the Library 81-91

A short private service was also held at the animal memorial at the Broadway Centre at 11am and a wreath laid in remembrance of the animals who lost their lives.

 

Remembrance/Armistice Day 2020

As a result of Covid-19 restrictions and the national lockdown planned Remembrance Services and ceremonies were not able to take place.

Wreath laying ceremonies were brought forward to 4 November 2020 and attended by the High Sheriff, Mayor, Chairman of the Isle of Wight British Legion and councillors.

Children from the Bay primary wrote poems which were to included in the planned service at Christ Church.

2020 Remembrance Poems by the Bay Primary School

Residents are encouraged to take part in the two minute silence on their doorstep, or inside their homes, as a mark of remembrance at 11am on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day (Wednesday 11 November).

Homes and businesses are being encouraged to mark Remembrance Sunday and show support for the armed forces community by displaying a poppy in their window.

This could be a traditional Royal British Legion paper poppy, a homemade poppy, a coloured-in poppy or a printed picture. There are pictures of poppies available to download and print from the Royal British Legion website

VJ Day 2020 - VJ Day@75

Following the cancellation of VE Day @75 events due to the first national lockdown, a small event, in line with government Covid-19 guidance was held. Military Vehicles transported dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant, accompanied by a cadet escort, the High Sheriff and the Mayor to the memorials across the bay for wreath laying ceremonies, though it was not possible to open the events to the public.

A service was then held beside the commonwealth war graves at Christ Church which was also attended by representatives from the Burma Star Association, the Royal British Legion and councillors.

Pupils of the Bay Primary School had been asked to design a flag to commemorate the date. The winning design, by Evie Fairhurst, was raised in the graveyard at the church.