United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials
Supported By The Imperial War Museum

FRENCH PRISONERS

UKNIWM Ref: 41010

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Address

ST GEORGES CENTRE
CHATHAM
KENT
ENGLAND
 
Type: CROSS
Denomination: CHURCH OF ENGLAND
OS Map Ref: TQ 770 670

Previous Locations

AddressDate MovedReason for Move
ST MARYS ISLAND FRENCH CEMY
GILLINGHAM
KENT
ENGLAND
DEC 1904 FRENCH CEMETERY SOLD TO ADMIRALTY FOR RN DOCKYARD EXTENSION. REMAINS AND MEMORIAL MOVED

Inscription

FRONT: HERE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER/ THE REMAINS OF MANY BRAVE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS/ WHO HAVING BEEN THE FOES, AFTERWARDS, THE CAPTIVES OF ENGLAND/ NOW FIND REST IN HER SOIL/ REMEMBERING NO MORE THE ANIMOSITIES OF WAR AND THE SORROWS OF IMPRISONMENT/ THEY WERE DEPRIVED OF THE CONSOLATION OF CLOSING THEIR EYES/ AMONGST THE COUNTRYMEN THEY LOVED/ BUT THEY HAVE BEEN LAID IN AN HONOURABLE GRAVE/ BY A NATION WHICH KNOWS HOW TO RESPECT VALOUR/ AND TO SYMPATHISE WITH MISFORTUNE

REVERSE: THIS MEMORIAL, BUILT TO ADMIRALTY ORDER BY CONVICT/ LABOUR IN 1869 AND PLACED IN THE PRISONERS-OF-WAR/ CEMETERY ON ST MARY'S ISLAND, WAS RE-ERECTED HERE/ IN THE AUTUMN OF 1904, WHEN A CONTEMPLATED, BUT/ SUBSEQUENTLY ABANDONED EXTENSION OF CHATHAM/ DOCKYARD NECESSITATED THE REMOVAL OF THE PRISONERS'/ REMAINS TO THEIR NEW GRAVE BENEATH IT

Components

ComponentMaterial(s)HeightWidthDepthCondition
CROSS STONE       GOOD

Physical Description

ELABORATE ELEANOR STYLE CROSS WITH CENTRAL FIGURE. ON SQUARE PLINTH AND FOUR STEPPED BASE

Wars Commemorated & People Remembered

War REVOLUTIONARY/NAPOLEONIC
Total names on memorial: 0
Served & Returned 0
Died 0
Is this an exact count? Not known
How are the names ordered? Not known
What information is listed on the memorial? None
Is a list of names on the memorial held by the UKNIWM? No

Maintenance

Are the letters difficult to read? No
Who is responsible for the memorial?

Maintenance History:

Ceremonies

Not known

Sponsorships

Sponsorship Type: None
Did this include a trust or scholarship? No
Did this include a roll of honour? NOT APPLICABLE
Cost of Site: Not known
Cost of Memorial: Not known
Comments on Costs:

Craftsmen

Not known

References

Co-ordinator's Comments:

NO CEREMONY ON INSTRUCTIONS OF THE ADMIRALTY

Comments: PAMP: INFORMATION LEAFLET GIVING HISTORY OF FRENCH PRISONERS ON THE MEDWAY.
Photographs: 3
Other Documents: None
Form / Letter: F
Negatives: No
Drawings / Plans: No
Minutes: No
Publications: 1
Press Cuttings: 1