Chatham Naval Memorial, Military memorial in Medway, Great Britain
The Chatham Naval Memorial is a monument on a hill overlooking the River Medway in Medway, England, built from Portland Stone and topped with three tall pillars crowned in bronze. Around the central structure stand four stone sailor figures and two pavilions that frame the open space.
The memorial was built between 1924 and 1930 to honor Royal Navy personnel who died at sea during World War I and have no known grave. After World War II, it was extended under architect Sir Edward Maufe to include those lost in the second conflict as well.
The names carved into the stone panels are arranged by ship and rank, so visitors can look up a specific person among those listed. Among the names are recipients of the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in Britain.
The memorial stands in Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham and is free to visit at any time of year. The hill setting gives a broad view over the surrounding area, so sturdy footwear is a good idea for the walk up.
The memorial carries the names of over 18,000 men who died at sea with no known grave, making it one of the longest name registers on a single monument in Britain. Because they have no burial place, this site is the only physical location where their names are permanently recorded.
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