Echoes of Sacrifice: A Journey to the Settle War Memorial

 The Settle War Memorial, located at the junction of Church Street and Langcliffe Road, is a striking piece of architecture that captures the attention of both locals and visitors. Built in 1925, the memorial was designed by the architect Henry Ross and constructed by the local firm Brassington, Sons and Company Ltd.

The cenotaph itself is made of pristine white granite, standing on an octagonal plinth with a stepped pedestal. Its design is deliberately understated yet powerful, reflecting the sombre mood of the nation following the devastation of the Great War.

The Inscriptions: A Voice from Antiquity

One of the most moving aspects of the Settle War Memorial is the choice of inscription. Carved into the stone are the words of the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, taken from his tragedy The Women of Troy:

"No mean crown he wins who bravely for his country dies."

This quote, chosen by the people of Settle nearly a century ago, bridges the gap between ancient history and modern sacrifice. It reminds us that the pain of loss and the honour of service are universal human experiences that transcend time and geography.

The front of the memorial also bears the dedication:

• "PRO PATRIA" (For Country)

• "Erected by public subscription to the honoured memory of those from the township of Settle who gave their lives for King and Country in the Great War 1914-1918."

Honouring the Fallen: Names That Live On

The memorial serves as a permanent record of the individuals who left this idyllic corner of North Yorkshire to serve on the front lines.

• World War I: The names of 50 men from the Settle township are inscribed, arranged by their year of death.

• World War II: In 1948, the memorial was rededicated to include 17 additional names from the 1939-1945 conflict.

• Modern Conflicts: Demonstrating that the memorial remains a "living" monument, a name from the Afghanistan (2001-2014) conflict was also added, ensuring that recent sacrifices are never forgotten.

Notably, the memorial also honours two US airmen who died in the district during World War II, a poignant reminder of the international cooperation and the local impact of the war even far from the front lines.

The Story of the Sunflowers

In recent years, visitors to the memorial garden may have noticed an addition that adds a splash of colour and contemporary meaning: metal sunflowers. These handcrafted steel sculptures, often made of Corten steel which develops a beautiful rust-like patina over time, have become symbols of hope and support.

Originally part of various charity installations (such as those for local hospices or as a show of solidarity with Ukraine), these sunflowers represent "moments that matter." Their presence alongside the stark granite of the cenotaph creates a beautiful dialogue between the "ordered ranks" of the fallen and the "everlasting bloom" of community spirit.

From Bridge End to Church Street

The memorial hasn't always stood in its current peaceful garden. When it was first unveiled on December 6, 1925, by Brigadier General J.E. Edwards, it was located in the middle of the road at Bridge End. As the town grew and traffic increased, the monument was eventually moved to its present, more tranquil location on Church Street, where it is now protected as a Grade II listed building.

Why You Should Visit Settle

Settle is a town steeped in history, serving as a gateway to some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK. After paying your respects at the war memorial, you can explore:

• The Settle-Carlisle Railway: One of the most scenic train journeys in the world starts right here.

• Castleberg Crag: A towering limestone cliff that offers panoramic views of the town.

• The Folly: A 17th-century Grade I listed house that now serves as a local museum.

The Settle War Memorial is not just a destination for history buffs; it is a place for quiet reflection for anyone visiting the Yorkshire Dales. It stands as a reminder that the freedom we enjoy to walk these hills was bought at a high price by the very names carved into its granite face.

I took these with a Nikon d3300 on the 23rd August 2016. Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Funeral of an Unknown Warrior.

My passion lies in capturing moments through my own lens. But beyond creating new images, I have a deep love for unearthing and collecting photographic history – old postcards, forgotten pictures, negatives, and slides all hold a special fascination for me.

I've been thinking it would be interesting to share some of these vintage finds with you, right here on the blog, alongside my own contemporary work. It feels like a wonderful way to connect the past with the present and explore the stories these images tell.

To kick things off, I thought I'd start with two incredibly poignant postcards. These were taken on a significant day in history: November 11th, 1920, during the funeral of the Unknown Warrior. Clicking either image should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The unknown warrior was selected by Brigadier L.J. Wyatt who was given a choice of soldiers whose remains had been exhumed from various battlefields and brought to a chapel at Saint Pol sur Ternoise, France on the night of November 7th 1920. Brigadier Wyatt was accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel E.A.S. Gell and neither man knew which battlefield each soldiers remains had been exhumed from. The remains had been placed in individual coffins covered by Union Flags, Brigadier Wyatt closed his eyes and rested his hand on one of the coffins which was then selected. The other soldiers remains were then taken away for reburial overseen by the Reverend George Kendall OBE.

The coffin of the unknown warrior then remained in the chapel overnight, and was transferred the following day with a guard and escort, as well as troops lining the route to the castle library, within the ancient citadel at Boulogne where it was guarded overnight by a company of soldiers from the French 8th Infantry Regiment.

On the 9th November 1920 the coffin was places within a casket made from oak timbers of trees within the grounds of Hampton Court Place. The casket was then affixed with a sword chosen personally by King George V from the Royal Collection and banded with iron. The shield that was fixed upon the top of the sword and casket bared the inscription "A British Warrior who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 for King and Country". The coffin was then drawn by six black horses on a French military wagon for the mile long journey to the harbour, The wagon being escorted by local schoolchildren and a division of French troops. The French infantry playing Aux Champs as the coffin left Boulogne.

The casket was met at the harbour by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Verdun, and was piped aboard with the admirals call, whilst Marshal Foch the commander of the French Armies during the Great War saluted the casket before it was carried up the gangway. The ship left around noon and was joined by an escort of 6 battleships for it's journey across the channel. As the flotilla approached Dover it was greeted by a 19 gun Field Marshals salute.

The casket was landed on the 10th November and travelled from Dover Marine Railway Station to Victoria Station, London where it was to arrive at Platform 8 at 8.32 pm and remain overnight.

Placed on a gun carriage and drawn by 6 horses the casket began it's final journey on the morning of 11 November 1920 passing through large, silent and respectful crowds. Upon departure from Victoria, there was another Field Marshals salute fired in Hype Park. The cortege route passed Hyde Park Corner, The Mall and Whitehall where King George V unveiled the Cenotaph. It was then followed by the King, the Royal Family and ministers of state to Westminster Abbey where it was interred in the far western end of the nave, in soil brought from each of the main Great War battlefields. The grave is capped with a black Belgian marble stone and is the only tomb within Westminster Abbey that people are forbidden to walk. The ceremony included a guard of honour by 100 recipients of the Victoria Cross. The guest of honour at the service were a group of about 100 women who had lost their husbands and all their sons in the war. After internment the armed forces stood guard as tens of thousands of mourners filed past to pay their respects.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Photo4Me and Clickasnap using the links below. Your support means a lot!