The Tirah Memorial is a war memorial in Bonn Square, Oxford, England. It commemorates soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry who died in 1897–98 on the Tirah Expedition and Punjab Frontier Campaign[1] to suppress rebel tribes on the North West Frontier of British India.
History edit
The Tirah Memorial was unveiled in 1900, making it Oxford's first war memorial.[1]
The monument was designed by Inigo Thomas.[1] It is an obelisk 25 feet (7.6 m) high, with foundations 20 feet (6.1 m) deep.[1] It was erected in a public garden that had been the graveyard of St Peter-le-Bailey parish church[1] and is now Bonn Square. The digging of the memorial's foundations unearthed human remains, which were re-interred at Osney Cemetery 1.2 miles (2 km) away.[citation needed]
The Tirah Memorial is a Grade II listed building.[2]
Other Tirah memorials edit
Men of the Dorset Regiment who died during the Tirah Expedition are commemorated by a Tirah Memorial in Borough Gardens, Dorchester Dorset, southern England.[3]
Men of the King's Own Scottish Borderers who died during the Tirah Expedition are commemorated on the memorial at North Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland.[citation needed]
Men of the Royal Sussex Regiment who died during the Tirah Expedition are commemorated on a memorial at Eastbourne, East Sussex, southeast England.[citation needed]
Men of the Northamptonshire Regiment who died in the expedition are commemorated on a plaque on the exterior of All Saints' Church, Northampton.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Jenkins, Stephanie (4 September 2011). "War Memorials: Tirah Campaign, Bonn Square". Oxford Streets. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ Historic England. "Oxfordshire Light Infantry Memorial, New Road (1338518)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ Historic England. "Borough Gardens, Dorchester (1001559)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Fact contained on an inscription on the memorial
Further reading edit
- Smith, Martin (2011). General Sir William Stephen Alexander Lockhart, Soldier of the Queen Empress. ISBN 978-0-9570154-0-1.