War memorial model
George Frederick Bodley (1827 - 1907)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1905
Materials
Wood
Measurements
406 x 216 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Treasurer's House, North Yorkshire
NT 592874
Caption
In 1905 near York Minster, a war memorial was unveiled to those who served and were lost in the South African War (or Second Boer War, 1899–1902). It contains the names of almost 1,500 Yorkshire soldiers, sailors and nurses, many of whom died from disease rather than in battle. This is a model of the original design by architect George Bodley (1827–1907) and features the figures of service personnel, including a nurse clutching bandages. The model is not identical to its life-sized equivalent, as Bodley redesigned the sailor figure to hold a length of chain or rope, rather than a gun. The model was given to Frank Green, the secretary of the committee that raised funds for the memorial. Green bought and restored Treasurer’s House in the centre of York. In 1900 he opened the house to raise money for the wounded. Although war memorials were tributes funded by fellow citizens, some families felt the money could have been better used. Unemployment was a challenge for returning volunteer soldiers and many had to sell furniture or even wedding rings to buy food.
Summary
Sculpture, wood, South African War Memorial, Duncombe Place, York by George Frederick Bodley (1827-1907). Sculptor's wooden model of the South African War Memorial in Duncombe Place, York. Sculptor - G.F. Bodley, R.A. Paper stuck on base is headed 'Sandbeck Park, Rotherham', dated 'New Year's Eve 1905'. Reads, 'This model of the Yorkshire memorial to those who fell in the South African Wars was given by the committee to their Hon. Sec. Frank Green'. Signatures: Lord Ripon, Lord Harewood, Lord Herries, Lord Candish (?), Lord Feversham, Lord Scarborough, Lord Halifax, Lord Wenlock and the Dean of York
Full description
This model is thought to be a unique survival from the firm of the designer, George Frederick Bodley.The finished structure, located close to York Minster, was unveiled in 1905 as a memorial to 1,459 Yorkshire soldiers, sailors and military nurses who were killed or died of disease during the South African War (also known as the Second Anglo-Boer War) (1899 -1902). Bodley was also a founder of Watts & Co., the design firm that Frank Green heavily used for supplying wallpapers and damasks to Treasurer's House. Frank Green was the secretary of the committee to raise funds for the memorial. He also negotiated the eventual site of the memorial and organised the construction work. It was in thanks for his contribution that on New Year’s Eve 1905 he was given this model. Green had previously raised funds for the war wounded by opening Treasurer's House to the public in June 1900. As an officer in the Queen's Own Yorkshire Yeomanry, he was also involved in the supply of remounts to the imperial forces in South Africa. Despite the good intentions of a memorial, some people thought that funds could have been better spent. Unemployment was a problem for returning volunteer soldiers. Jobs were not held open and this forced many people to sell furniture, medals and even wedding rings to buy food. The wife of a local Yeomanry volunteer wrote, ‘there would have been much more honour in getting men back the work they had lost…than writing their names up’. See: 'The Yorkshire County Memorial’ by Meurig G.M.Jones, York Historian vol 12 ,1995.
Provenance
Given by Frank Green (1861-1954) along with house, garden and contents to the National Trust in 1930
Makers and roles
George Frederick Bodley (1827 - 1907), sculptor