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The memorial, unveiled in October 1920, consists of a bronze figural group set on a rectangular stone base. The group depicts a mother, drapery-clad and with an elongated neck, urging two garland-bearing children forward. According to the sculptor, 'I designed the group representing Belgium as a woman draped in mourning, in the act of telling her children that Belgians will never forget their debt of gratitude to Great Britain. The garlands and other floral offerings borne by the children are symbolical of the wealth of the nine Belgian provinces. As for the children themselves, the lad and the little girl are designed to typify the spirit of youth and the confidence in the future, which is the most marked characteristic of the Belgian nation.
Title
Belgian War Memorial
Date
1918–1920
Medium
stone & bronze
Measurements
H 528 x W 1500 x D (?) cm
Accession number
WC2N_TJ_S014
Acquisition method
purchased by subscription
Work type
War memorial
Custodian
English Heritage
Work status
extant
Listing status
Grade II* (England and Wales)
Unveiling date
12th October 1920
Listing date
05/02/70
Access
at all times
Signature/marks description
Victor Rousseau 1918
Inscription description
HONOUR JUSTICE; below central sculpture in stone plinth: TO / THE BRITISH NATION / FROM THE GRATEFUL PEOPLE OF BELGIUM / 1914 - 1918