The Boer War Memorial is located in Queens Park on Victoria Avenue in Crewe and is Grade II listed.
The memorial was erected in memory of local soldiers who had served or died in the Boer War by a committee named the Crewe South African Volunteers' and Reservists' Memorial Fund Committee which represented local volunteers rather than regular serving men. The memorial was funded with the money raised by public subscription with donations that amounted to £1,050.
The memorial was designed and made by Joseph Whitehead and Sons of Westminster. It was unveiled on 8th August 1903 by Lord Stalbridge, chairman of the railway company.
The memorial consists of a bronze statue of soldier in uniform standing on a marble column mounted on a stone plinth and contains bronze plaques with the names of those who served and those who died during the war.
The soldier is standing to attention, holding a rifle, and dressed in what was known as "foreign service dress" that includes a slouch hat, a bandolier belt, a pouch, and a water bottle.
The whole memorial, including the statue, is about 9 metres (29.5 ft) high.
Originally at the base of the memorial there was a bronze model of a locomotive that stood on rails with 19 sleepers. The model named King Edward VII, had been designed by F. W Webb and made by P. H. Lightfoot. It was 1.2 metres (4 ft) long and weighed over ten tons. The model was later removed and was replaced by two stone lions.
The Grade II description given by Historic England reads as follows;
"War Memorial in Queen's Park
GV II
South African War Memorial, 1904 (Pevsner). Grey marble with yellow sandstone cap and bronze figure. Square moulded base, chamfered plinth with recessed corners. Memorial plaques on four faces, in bronze, surmounted by bowtell topped pediment. The north facing pediment has the former arms of the Borough with the motto "Never Behind" below the date 1899-1902. Square tapering marble column with sandstone Ionic cap supporting a near full sized statue of a soldier, with rifle, dressed in the uniform of the period.
Listing NGR: SJ6872955629" SOURCE: (
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The North facing pediment of the memorial;
Borough of Crewe arms with the motto 'Never Behind', below the dates 1899 1902.
Below which is a metal plaque that is inscribed as follows;
2nd CHESHIRE ROYAL ENGINEERS (RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS)
LIST OF OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN OF THE CORPS WHO SERVED WITH THE REGULAR FORCES DURING THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
1899 - 1902