Allegorical Female Figure of Victory - Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

The War Memorial in Hanley was originally built to commemorate the dead of World War I, and stands outside the Town Hall in Albion Street. The sculptor was Harold Brownsword and the memorial was unveiled on 11th November 1922 by Mrs Cecil Wedgwood, JP.
It is Grade II listed. (visit link)

"The bronze female figure of Victory, (one and a half times life size) stands atop the plinth, her helmet plumed with a lion and a snake beneath her feet. She holds up a sword encircled by a wreath in her right hand, and there is a shield behind her at her left heel. It is circular and its design is of five circular roundels, each containing a royal crown surrounded by a wreath. Victory wears a short chain mail top over a laced bodice and a full-length skirt, and her cloak is swept over her shoulder.
Symbolism:
The snake beneath Victory's feet alludes to the defeat of evil, in this case by force of arms (the sword in her right hand). The wreath is another signifier of Victory, while the lion on the female figure's helmet and the two Tudor roses either side of the Stoke on Trent coat of arms symbolise the English nation."

On the front of the memorial plinth the Stoke on Trent coat of arms appears encircled by a wreath and flanked by two Tudor roses. On each of the two sides of the plinth are further wreaths, again in bronze.
Additional black stone tablets with incised inscriptions have been added to two sides of the plinth.

front of plinth, bronze lettering:
TO
OUR VALIANT
DEAD
1914-1918
&
1939-1945

back of plinth, bronze lettering:
THEY DIED
FOR
OUR FREEDOM

left side of plinth, on small slate plaque in incised gold lettering
NORTH STAFFS BRANCH
DEDICATED TO OUR COMPANIONS WHO FOUGHT IN
THE BURMA CAMPAIGN
1941-1945
"WHEN YOU GO HOME, TELL THEM OF US AND SAY,
FOR YOUR TOMORROW WE GAVE OUR TODAY."
LEST WE FORGET.

rear of plinth, on small slate plaque in incised gold lettering:
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE EX FAR EAST
PRISONERS OF WAR ASSOCIATION
TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE FAR EAST IN
THE 1939-1945 WAR AND DIED IN JAPANESE
PRISON CAMPS OR LATER AS RESULT OF CAPTIVITY.

Source of the above information: (visit link)

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Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: unknown Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Harold Brownsword Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: unknown Materials used: Bronze Location: Not listed

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