Monument Name
Naval War Memorial
Monument Location
South Sea Common, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
About This Monument
The Naval War Memorial is a tall, imposing monument overlooking the sea, mainly constructed of marble blocks, as are many buildings of authority in Portsmouth.
This memorial commemorates officers and men who died at sea.
The names of over 24,000 men and women who served in the navy during the 1st and 2nd World War are inscribed on this memorial.
Why This Monument Is Important
The Naval War Memorial is a World War memorial with a vertical emphasis contrasting sharply with the horizontal, long Vietnam War Memorial.
This memorial stands for power and triumph as it nearly touches and makes a spatial tension with the blue sky and stands out on the South Sea Common.
The Naval War Memorial overlooks the sea where most of the fallen men were consumed by the cold water.
At the highest point of the monument , there is a spherical ball depicting the world—a reminder to the people who see it that world peace comes as a result of bravery and courage.
Burma, Cylon, India, Abysinia, and Kenya remind me of the names my grandfather often mentioned about the war. As a teenager, he was recruited form Nyasaland (now Malawi) to fight Mussolini’s forces under the king’s African rifles.
This memorial is a symbol of the power, courage, and endurance of the brave officers and men who, among all odds, died for the freedom of the world.
The monument is well-located. While we walk along the path between the sea and the monument on the common, we should stop and remember those who were lost at sea for our freedom.
This was a world war indeed about a power struggle between the nations of the world .
This monument is very far from my country of birth but it brings me closer to my relatives and my grandpa, because they were part of this world event.
When I asked my granny many questions, I never got clear answers and now I just remember Burma, Cylon, India, and Kenya. He must have taken part in the 2nd World War before I was born.
Advice
- Look for the height of this monument towering over the sea.
- Notice the relation between the sea, monument, and esplanade.
- The South Sea Common is very cold compared to the inner city in winter.
- Never make the same mistakes that I did.
- There are lot of day and night amusements along and around the esplanade.
