Oldham War Memorial, War memorial in central Oldham, England
Oldham War Memorial is a monument in the town center featuring a bronze sculpture group of five life-size soldiers positioned on a granite plinth approximately three meters tall, located beside St Mary's Church. The figures are realistically carved and arranged to form a striking sculptural composition in the public square.
The memorial was unveiled by General Sir Ian Hamilton on 28 April 1923 in front of a gathering of over 10,000 people assembled at the town center. This significant public event marked the community's formal acknowledgment of its wartime losses.
Bronze plaques mounted on the churchyard wall list names of those who died locally, including nurse Mabel Drinkwater who passed away following medical treatment at Oldham Royal Infirmary. These inscriptions show how the community chose to honor and remember its losses.
The memorial is located on public ground beside the church and remains freely accessible at all times, making it a natural stopping point when exploring the town center. The surrounding area is well lit and the granite surfaces can become slippery in wet weather, so take care when approaching.
The sculpture group was rotated 180 degrees during installation to face toward the town hall, departing from the original planned orientation. This unexpected shift in positioning remains invisible to most visitors but reveals how final details were adjusted on site.
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