Welcome to the Pudsey Cenotaph virtual Remembrance page, in association with the Pudsey & Farsley Royal British Legion Branch. The British Legion are recognised as the Nation's custodians of Remembrance.
This website is here for you to explore the history behind and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
For your tomorrow they gave their today, we will not break faith with them.
This website is here for you to explore the history behind and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
For your tomorrow they gave their today, we will not break faith with them.
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About the Cenotaph:
Pudsey Cenotaph was funded and erected by local residents, with its unveiling ceremony held on 10th September 1922. The monument was dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Bradford, The Right Reverend Arthur Perowne, and officially handed over to the town by the Vicar of Pudsey, Reverend C. Owen French, on behalf of the subscribers. The Cenotaph features a square pedestal made of Portland Stone, supporting a bronze statue of a private soldier from the West Yorkshire Regiment in full kit with a slung rifle. Designed by Brierley & Rutherford, Architects of York, the bronze figure was sculpted by Henry Poole of London. It cost £5,000 to build and stands on the consecrated grounds of the former Chapel of Ease of All Saints, which dated back centuries before its rebuilding in 1793 and demolition in 1879. The history of the Chapel is also explored on this website. Now a Grade II listed monument, Pudsey Cenotaph honours those lost in war. The word cenotaph derives from the Greek for “empty tomb,” symbolising a monument for those whose remains lie elsewhere. Many of the commemorated individuals rest in Commonwealth War Grave Commission cemeteries in France and Belgium, while others lost at sea or unidentified are remembered on iconic memorials like Thiepval and the Menin Gate. |
About the commemorated:
The Cenotaph bears the names of 341 servicemen from World War I and 79 servicemen and one servicewoman from World War II. Among these, the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916 was the deadliest day, claiming the lives of at least 37 men from Pudsey. This single battle caused more Pudsey casualties than the entire Second World War. In addition, this site includes names from War Graves in Pudsey Cemetery and memorial plaques in local institutions and churches. These individuals, often overlooked due to dying at home or having a limited association with Pudsey, are now commemorated here together for the first time. Information is based on extensive research. While every effort has been made for accuracy, errors or omissions may be rectified upon notification. For more details or requests please see the CONTACT US page. |
The unveiling ceremony held on the 10th September 1922
