Two shots of the Boer War ‘Victory’ Memorial statue as I couldn’t decide which one to use, so you get both!

Since 1978 her wings have been made of fibreglass. Attached to the north face of the obelisk there is a lion head in bronze above bronze and copper fasces. On the lower base of the obelisk on the north (the Northumberland) side (not seen in these photos) there is the twice-life sized, semi-naked figure of ‘Northumbria’ reaching up to receive ‘Victory’s tribute. With her left hand the latter holds an unfurled military standard with a crown on top whilst steadying herself against the side of the obelisk. There is the fragment of a laurel crown in the palm of her up-stretched right hand. Attached to each of the other faces of the obelisk there are copper panels on which are bronze shields bearing the names of the dead listed by regiment.

Known originally as the ‘Northumberland War Memorial’, the monument had a troubled early history. It was erected by Newcastle Council at a cost of £4,707 which was almost double the estimated cost and considerably more than the £3,350 raised by public subscription. Completion was also very delayed; for years there were ugly hoardings, scaffolding and builders’ refuse at the Haymarket. It was eventually unveiled on 22nd June 1908 by Lieut.-General Sir Laurence Oliphant, General Officer C.-in-C. Northern Command and ‘received’ by the Lord Mayor on behalf of the citizens of Newcastle. The latter declared it ‘a thing of beauty’ and ‘an incentive to all to put their country’s claims as one of the first objects of their lives’. He also granted the honorary freedom of the city to every local soldier who had participated in the war. When construction on the Metro station at the Haymarket began in December 1975 the figure of ‘Victory’ (weighing seven tons) was removed to prevent it being damaged by vibrations from underground workings nearby. It was put back three years later in December 1978, but with new fibreglass wings (due to a lightning strike) and a new bronze cast body.

For more info: http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/NE/TWNE51.htm

Google Books information (scroll down one page to read more and see more photographs): http://books.google.com/books?id=E-FeH7gogk0C&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=South+African+War+Memorial,+newcastle,+uk&source=bl&ots=2dONULeJ_a&sig=c_2H-ki70l8BTlwZouTbiqTSiuQ&hl=en&ei=x_hxSu_cI5qitgfCppSNBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

I’ve really loved this Haymarket themed week, even if it wasn’t planned!