Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Sandown -
- Sandown War Memorial -

With becoming simplicity and reverence the Sandown war memorial, in the form of a Celtic cross, erected in a prominent position on the Esplanade, was unveiled and dedicated by H.R.H. Princess Beatrice, Governor of the Island, on Monday evening. Some thousands of people assembled for the ceremony, the sea of faces extending up the Seagrove-slipway into the High-street, and hundreds followed the proceedings from the Ocean Hotel Lawn, the two terraces of the Seagrove Hotel, and the balconies of houses in the neighbourhood.
The Princess was attended by Mr. Victor Corkran, C.V.O. (equerry) and Miss Bulteel. After taking tea with Capt. H.G. Adams-Connor, M.V.O., D.L., and Mrs. and Miss Adams-Connor at The Rangers, Her Royal Highness proceeded to the Ocean Hotel, where a room was placed at her disposal. Following the arrival of the procession, Her Royal Highness walked to the memorial. Capt Adams-Connor, who led the party was in the undress uniform of a deputy lieutenant. The guard of honour furnished by C Company, Princess Beatrice's I.W. Rifles had already taken up their position, and, the Royal salute having been sounded, they rested on arms reversed and remained so during the ceremony, four sentries being posted at the corners of the memorial. The officers on parade were Lieut-Col. A.C.T. Vessey, Major G. Nicholson, M.C. (adjutant), Capt. P.W. Rousell, and Lieut. Thorne, with Sergt.-Instructors F. Boncey (Sandown) and W.H. King (Ventnor). Major Redfearn represented the 7th (Hants) Fire Command R.G.A.
The service opened with Scriptural sentences read by the Rev. S.L. Dixon, followed by the singing of "O God, our help in ages past," the accompaniment being provided by the Sandown Band. Other passages of Scripture were read by Mr. Dixon, after which the chorus "Happy and blest are they," from Mendelsohn's "St. Paul," was sung by the Choral Society and other choristers, under the direction of Mr. E.A. English, Mus.Bac., F.R.C.O. Prayer was next offered by the Rev. Maldwyn Johnes. Her Royal Highness then unveiled the memorial, speaking in a clear and audible voice the following words : "In the name of all who are gathered here, and of those who belong to his town, we unveil this memorial, and solemnly dedicate to to the glory of God, and in grateful and imperishable memory of those whose names it bears." A short period of silent prayer, in which those present were asked to ponder the fact that they owed their freedom to those who gave their lives, was followed by the Lord's Prayer, and the singing of the hymn, "Let saints on earth." The assembly was led in further prayer by the Rev. P.H.D. Ogle. The "Last Post" and "Reveille" were sounded, the Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. H.R. Sumner, and the first verse of the National Anthem concluded the service. On the departure of the Princess the guard of honour gave the Royal salute. The Royal Governor returned to the Ocean Hotel, and there graciously received the War Memorial Committee and one or two others.
The Celtic cross, which is of splendid proportions, was designed by Mr. Percy G. Stone, A.R.I.B.A., who has very close associations with Sandown, and is the work of Mr. C. Trevail, of Truro. The cost is about £560, and on the day of the unveiling only about £25 of this remained to be raised. The base of the memorial consists of four massive blocks of granite, formerly used as gun mountings in Yaverland Battery, and a distinguishing feature of the cross is that the circulet at the head is not pierced through. On three panels of the die are cut the names of 78 Sandown men who gave their lives. The front panel facing the Esplanade bears the inscription, "Remember those who came not home from the war," taken from an ode by Dr. Robert Bridges, the poet laureate. On the cross itself there are two inscriptions. The first is the now familiar quotation from Ecclesiasticus. "Their name liveth for evermore." The other is, "Each gave a life for you and me" from one of the "Ballads of battle" written by Lance-Corpl. Joseph Lee, 4th Battalion Black Watch.
Previous to leaving the town the Princess visited the Fire-station, where she was welcomed by Honorary-Chief-Officer J. Dore, and graciously unveiled a brass tablet to the memory of Firemen Hugh Dennett and Edward J. Cassford, members of the Brigade who gave their lives in the war. Mr Dore referred to the excellent war service of the Brigade, and, after unveiling the memorial the Princess asked that the mothers of the two men might be presented to her. The chief officer of the Brigade, Dr. H.B. Billups, was also presented to Her Royal Highness.