The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

Thanks to David Burnett for photos of Lord Roberts, VictoriaCross.
UKNIWM 54682
Situated within Kelvingrove Park. Map ref NS 590650

graeme.ruxton · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

As requested, find some added pictures below, I've also done some research on the unveiling etc, and will add some text soon.

graeme.ruxton · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

Lord Roberts does not seem to have had any strong connection with Glasgow. But he was one of the most successful British military commanders of Victorian times. Glasgow acted quickly after his death in November 1914 to raise funds for a monument in his honour. This seems to have been done mainly by various schemes to collect small sums from the general public. The success of these schemes (in fact more money was raised that required for the monument) was a testament to his popularity and to feelings of patriotism during the early stage of World War One. Roberts’ widow took a keen interest in the project, and suggested strongly that the memorial should involve a copy of the monumental depiction of her husband on horseback by Harry Bates that was raised in Calcutta in 1898. Bates had since died, but his wife had a plaster model of the statue in her possession and organized the production of a copy for the Glasgow memorial. The memorial was unveiled by Roberts’ daughter on 21st August 1916.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject:

Graeme

That's very interesting about the Calcutta memorial. I wonder if it is still there in Calcutta in one of those parks set aside for old Raj era monuments?

Cheers

Adam

graeme.ruxton · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

I have not checked personally, but from the internet it does seem that the original monument does remain in a large park called The Maidan in what was once called Catcutta but is now called Kolkata.

In fact there is yet another copy of the statue in Horse Guards Parade in London. This time it sits on a much less ornate plinth, and was constructed after the Glasgow one. The London statue is smaller that the ones in India and Glasgow, allegedly the reduction in size was implemented so as not to dominate the nearby statue of Wolseley.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:07 pm Post subject:

spoons · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject:

Here is a short film clip of the unveiling.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=75631

\Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 2:41 pm Post subject: