4. FIRST WORLD WAR MEMORIAL, 1922

Unveiled Saturday, 1st July 1922 Architect: Walter Williamson (Bradford City's architect)

At first glance, it is hard to imagine that this memorial caused any form of controversy. It was designed by Bradford's city architect, Walter Williamson and is in the form of a cenotaph of locally quarried stone from Bolton Woods Quarry. High on the front, the cross symbolises 'sacrifice', and a wreath containing the words 'Pro Patri Mori' (they died for their country) symbolises 'grief'. Two bronze figures of a soldier and sailor are realistically represented, lunging forward with their rifles. It is these figures that caused the' controversy. Originally bayonets extended from their rifles, which explains the overbalanced forward movement of the figures. Their stance and the bayonets were considered far too aggressive and warlike and as late as the 1960s the offending bayonets were deliberately bent and damaged. When the monument was cleaned, it was decided to remove the weapons permanently.

The monument was significantly unveiled on the 6th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme, when the Bradford 'Pals' Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment suffered massive and severe casualties. The roll of honour contained 37,000 names, an astounding figure when it is realised that the crowd attending the unveiling numbered 40,000, only 3,000 more people. Lieutenant Colonel Alderman Anthony Gadie, who served in France and was a former Lord Mayor of Bradford, carried out the official commemoration, with a dedication read by the Vicar of Bradford, Archdeacon W. Stanton Jones.

Cross Little Horton Lane, to the left of the War Memorial and walk toward the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television.