Blackpool Cenotaph

This is also a work in progress - it links to the transcription that can be found here. As far as I am aware this transcription is complete and accurate.

The Blackpool Cenotaph is a very striking piece of monumental architecture. Completed in 1923 by Prestwich and sons. It is 100 ft high and is considered to be Britain’s tallest monument.This cenotaph is number 565  of the War Memorials Archive

There have been developments with this memorial. 3 names are about to be added to one of the bronze plaques that surround the base of the memorial. Much of the information is taken from the Blackpool Evening Gazette (Dec 17th 2012) and some from sources on the internet. Links provided.

The first name is James McDowell, Stoker  on the submarine P514 was accidently sunk by the Canadian minesweeper HMCS Georgian of the coast of Newfoundland. However the information from the Commonwealth Graves Commission (see link above) puts a James McDowell on the HMS Glorious at the time of his death, 8th June 1940. ( From this link the P 514 was rammed on the 21/6/1942) Could there be 2 James McDowell's? It seems that there is a memorial at Swinbrook to the crew of the P514.  This is an excerpt from Ancestry by the son of James Ronald McDowell:

The submarine my father was serving on, P514, was on patrol in the North Atlantic of the coast of Newfoundland in 1942. For some reason the submarine was unable to identify themselves and consequently she was rammed by the HMCS Avalon with the loss of all hands. The circumstances of the sinking was withheld until after World War 11 in order not to bring comfort to the enemy

The other information on Ancestry  gives James the middle name Ronald, born in 1915 in Blackpool. He married in 1938 in Blackpool when he was in the Navy. Clearly there has been excellent research by Local Historians here.

The second name is Acting Sergeant Barry Jewkes. There is considerable information at this link. It includes correspondence from his commanding officer to to his wife. This is indeed worth following up.

The final name is Private Tomas James Dale, a former St Georges pupil. There is a link here. Again searches on the internet will reveal much about Tomas.

When the plate is refixed I will photograph it.

Looking North towards Bispham.
The Metropole Hotel is on the right of the monument.
The monument is set into a depression and it allows a large body to be assembled.

A poignant moment - photo by Charlene Dodds
Thanks Charlene! chance to share your well thought out
and edited photo.

I feel that it is quite stern and foreboding. It is located quite close to the tower and in a way echoes its shape. Situated a stones throw from North Pier and the Town Hall it is indeed a stark reminder of the fallen.

The Blue Plaque.

The Falklands Casualty

R. FOULKES M.N.

The newly built choir stall.
It is at the landward side of the monument facing the tablets of the WW2 fallen.

The frieze on the North side of the obelisk. This is a panoramic picture. There are more pictures of details further down. This is labelled 1918 at the bottom.

The Frieze on the South Side of the Obelisk. Again a panoramic shot, multiple pictures stitched together. This is labelled 1914 at the bottom

One of the four servicemen depicted on the base of the cenotaph

The frieze continues to the right of this soldier.

The Sailor

The Airman

A detail from one of the 2 Friezes

The famous cat.
Gilbert Ledward's name is below.
1923

Another detail. This is a continuation of the image above.

 Gilbert Ledward's imagery takes on a timeless wistfulness that does not appear to be of this time. It responds to a time of great hurt. There is little savagery there, a great deal of strength but little anger. But if you look closely at the northern frieze, you will see a trampled German soldier on the left hand side.

To the left below the feet are the panels containing the names of the fallen from the WW2
To the right is the low stone block. The top has the bronze panels with half the names from WW1.
This is the northern side of the cenotaph

  

Looking to sea. The 2 wreaths are lying against panels of the WW2 fallen.
To the right and the left are northern and southern panels of the WW1 fallen.
They are raised on coffin shaped stonework.

The southern stone block - also containing the names of WW1 casualities

There are many short pillars around the cenotaph - all are very similar,
clearly a lion. Seems like a warning of sorts!

View to the right of the cenotaph. This is North Pier.
A panoramic shot made up of 16 shots stitched together