The Lichfield War Memorial, also known as the Men of Lichfield Memorial, is a grade II* listed building in Lichfield, Staffordshire, in England. The memorial sits within the Garden of Remembrance located near to the city's cathedral and Minster Pool. The site was designed by Charles Bateman and was constructed between 1919 and 1920 to commemorate people from the city who were killed fighting in the First World War. The memorial is formed of limestone; it is slab-like and rendered in the English Renaissance style with some classical features. The central feature is a life-size sculpture of Saint George standing atop the vanquished dragon. Slate plaques list the names of the dead; additional plaques were added later to commemorate the dead of the Second World War.
Description The Lichfield War Memorial lies within the Garden of Remembrance, to the north-west of Minster Pool and south-west of Lichfield Cathedral. The site has high brick walls to the north and east edges, a balustrade with gate onto Bird Street to the west and more balustrade on the boundary with Minster Pool to the south. There are two pairs of decorative urns atop the balustrade on the south and west boundaries. The wrought-iron gate bears the lettering "PAX–1919" referring to the 1919 Treaty of Versailles which ended the First World War (though fighting ended with the armistice of 11 November 1918). The gate piers are brick with stone caps that support sculptures of lions bearing the coat of arms of the city. The war memorial abuts the eastern wall of the gardens and is slab-like, measuring 7.25 metres (23.8 ft) in height, 9.25 metres (30.3 ft) in width and is 0.8 metres (2 ft 7 in) in depth. The memorial is English Renaissance in style and resembles a classical basilica façade and is rendered in limestone from Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. Two panelled piers at either end of the memorial are topped with balls and foliage. From the piers swept parapets lead up to the central bay of the memorial, which is its highest. The faces of the parapets contain relief carvings of wreaths surmounted by crowns and the parapet is topped with a scroll details. Two classical style, Ionic reeded and fluted pilasters frame the centre of the memorial. Within this frame is a niche containing a life-sized Portland stone sculpture of Saint George. George stands atop the slain dragon, he holds a bronze Christian cross in his right hand and his left hand rests on a shield with the same symbol. The pose is similar to that of Renaissance-era sculptor Giulio Angolo del Moro's statue of the saint on the façade of the San Giorgio Maggiore church in Venice. George is depicted as proud and youthful, his armour is inspired by that depicted in Donatello's sculpture of St George at the Orsanmichele church in Florence. The niche has a semi-circular top with a shell detail. Between the niche and the pilasters on each side a relief of a lion's head stands at the head of the years (1914–1919), denoting the years of the First World War, interposed with inverted bouquets, also in relief. The central bay is topped by a tympanum decorated with carvings of a scallop shell and leaves. The names of the war dead are inscribed on two sets of three Westmoreland slate panels, one set for each of the world wars, below Saint George and the carvings. The 209 names of the First World War dead are on panels 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) in height, the outer two panels are 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) wide while the central panel is 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) wide. The 83 names of the Second World War dead are on similar panels of the same width but shorter in height, on the plinth below the other panels. The centre of each central panel contains an inscription commemorating the sacrifice of those named.
REMEMBER WITH THANKSGIVING / THE MEN OF THIS CITY / WHO IN THEIR / COUNTRY'S HOUR OF NEED / WENT FORTH / ENDURED HARDNESS / FACED DANGER / AND FINALLY /PASSED OUT OF / THE SIGHT OF MEN / BY THE PATH OF SACRIFICE / AND THE GATE OF DEATH. / LET ALL WHO COME AFTER / SEE TO IT / THAT THESE DEAD / SHALL NOT HAVE DIED / IN VAIN / THAT THEIR NAME / BE NOT FORGOTTEN / AND WHAT THEY STROVE FOR / PERISH NOT. THESE LOWER PANELS / ARE DEDICATED / TO THOSE / WHO DIED / IN THE CAUSE / OF FREEDOM / DURING / THE WORLD WAR / 1939–1945 / AND THE / STRUGGLES WHICH / FOLLOWED.
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