Skip to main content

    War MemorialsRegister

    • Home
    • Search Memorials
    • Search Names
    • Help
    Imperial War Museums LogoImperial War Museums home
    • About
      • About us
      • Submit a photograph
      • Volunteering
    • Legal
      • Accessibility Statement
      • Cookies
      • Copyright
      • Privacy
      • Terms of use

    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Colchester

    1/19

    Current Location

    Castle entrance, Colchester Castle, High Street, Colchester, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1TH, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TL 99898 25218

    View location on Google Maps

    Contribute to the War Memorials Register

    Send us details and photographs of your local war memorials, to help enhance the information about the people, places and events they commemorate.

    Contribute now

    This record shows everything IWM currently knows about this memorial. We are continually updating our records.

    © WMR-2107

    To share information or photographs, contact us.

    Type of Memorial
    Sculptured / Cast group
    WMR Reference Number
    2107
    Description
    Three-stepped base surmounted by tall stone pedestal and bronze figure of winged victory on orb holding inverted sword and laurel wreath. Pedestal flanked on 3 and 9 o'clock sides by figures of St George standing on dragon and Peace holding a dove. Two bronze plaques bearing First World War inscription in relief mounted on 6 o'clock face, and bronze plaque with Second World War inscription in relief on 12 o'clock face. Additional plaque for post-1945 casualties added in 2008, mounted above Second World War plaque. Terracotta casket with First World War names and ephemera from the war buried within foundation of monument. To the north, are the decorative metal park gates, railings and stone piers which all form part of the original design and form a significant group with the memorial. Adjacent to the park gates are two metal benches , enamelled in black and red, commemorating the 1914-1918 armistice anniversary . The backs of the benches are pierced with outline figures in uniform , horses , poppies and doves .
    Inscription
    6 o'clock face, upper plaque: TO THE / GLORIOUS / MEMORY /OF THE MEN / OF / COLCHESTER / WHO FELL IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 18 / THEY STROVE FOR PEACE / THEY SERVED / FOR FREEDOM / THEY DIED TO LIVE TO THE / HONOUR / OF THE / MEN & WOMEN / OF / COLCHESTER / WHO STOOD FOR / KING & COVNTRY / & BEARING ARMS / OR BY THEIR WORK / HELPED TO WIN / THE WAR / 1914-18 6 o'clock face, lower plaque: THE NAMES OF 1263 MEN OF COLCHESTER/ HERE COMMEMORATED ARE INSCRIBED/ ON VELLUM AND DISPLAYED INSIDE THE/ PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE AT THE TOWN HALL 12 o'clock face, upper plaque: TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM COLCHESTER / KILLED ON DUTY OR AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST ACTION / SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR 12 o'clock face, lower plaque: AND TO THE HONOUR ALSO/ OF THOSE WHO WORKED, SERVED/ AND DIED IN THE FURTHER WAR OF/ 1939 - 1945
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    War
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    War
    Maker(s)

    H C FEHR, Sculptor

  • CARLO MAGNONI, Stone Carver

  • MESSRS L J WATTS LTD, Mason

  • DOULTON & CO LIMITED, Manufacturer

  • Sponsor Type
    public
    Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information
    The purchase of Colchester Castle and the cost of clearing the entrance area as a site for the memorial was covered by a donation of £10,000 from Lord and Lady Cowdray. Lord and Lady Cowdray offered another £10,000 to assist the town in purchasing the Holly Trees Estate, which became a park adjacent to the memorial. The terracotta casket, manufactured by Doulton and Co. Ltd., was donated by Mr W H Shephard of 93-94 High Street, Colchester.
    Maintenance History
    2008: Additional plaque for post-1945 casualties added. 2006: Listed Grade II with English Heritage. 1994: Staining of stone pedestal and cracks to figures reported. 1992: Graffiti removed from memorial.

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    24 May 1923

    FIELD MARSHAL SIR WILLIAM R ROBERTSON BART GCB GCMG KCVO DSO

    Custodian
    Colchester Borough Council

    Components

    Figure

    Height: c11ft


    Made from: Bronze


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1391704

    Pedestal

    Height: c16ft


    Made from: Stone - Portland


    Condition: Good


    Steps

    Made from: Granite


    Condition: Good


    Plaque

    Height: c6ft


    Made from: Unknown, Bronze


    Condition: Good


    Casket / Box

    Made from: Terracotta


    Condition: Good


    • Local Publication/Booklet 1923 E A Hunt, ed., The Colchester War Memorial Souvenir (Colchester: The Essex Telegraph Ltd, 1923)
    • Other website http://www.camulos.com/war/memorial.htm
    • Carter Postcard Collection
    • Our website 45604 http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.45604/fromUkniwmSearch/1
    • Colchester Gazette 19/20th August 1992 , Yuck! Our memorial is turning green
    • The Times 25 May 1923 page 9 Issue43350