Burnaby Monument - Birmingham, UK
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Superted
N 52° 28.849 W 001° 53.906
30U E 574809 N 5815088
The Portland stone obelisk standing more than 50 feet high is a memorial to Colonel Frederick Burnaby is in the churchyard of St Philips Cathedral, Temple Row, Birmingham.
Waymark Code: WM5JT2
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/15/2009
Views: 12
On the side of the obelisk are the names and dates of his two military campaigns in Egypt and the Sudan. The front face has a three-quarter relief portrait of him in uniform set within a medallion directly below the carved military regalia at the base of the obelisk. The is a rather serious looking portrait and contrasts with the portrait of Burnaby by Tissot where he is a dashing figure.
Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby (March 3, 1842 – January 17, 1885), was an English traveller and soldier:-
He was born in Bedford, the son of the Rev. Gustavus Andrew Burnaby of Somersby Hall, Leicestershire, and canon of Middleham in Yorkshire (15 July 1872), by Harriet, sister of Mr. Henry Villebois of Marham House, Norfolk (1883). He was educated at Bedford School, Harrow and Oswestry School and in Germany. He entered the Royal Horse Guards in 1859. Finding no chance for active service, his spirit of adventure sought outlets in balloon-ascents and in travels through Spain and Russia. In the summer of 1874 he accompanied the Carlist forces as correspondent of The Times, but before the end of the war he was transferred to Africa to report on Gordon's expedition to the Sudan. This took Burnaby as far as Khartoum. Returning to England in March 1875, he matured his plans for a journey on horseback to the Khanate of Khiva through Russian Asia, which had just been closed to travellers. His accomplishment of this task, in the winter of 1875-1876, described in his book A Ride to Khiva, brought him immediate fame. His next leave of absence was spent in another adventurous journey on horseback, through Asia Minor, from Scutari to Erzerum, with the object of observing the Russian frontier, an account of which he afterwards published. In the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, Burnaby (who soon afterwards became lieutenant-colonel) acted as travelling agent to the Stafford House (Red Cross) Committee, but had to return to England before the campaign was over.
In 1879 he married Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed, who had inherited her father's lands at Greystones, Ireland. The previously-named Hawkins-Whitshed estate at Greystones is known as The Burnaby to this day. At this point began his active interest in politics, and in 1880 he unsuccessfully contested a seat at Birmingham in the Tory-Democrat interest. In 1882 he crossed the English Channel in a hot air balloon. Having been disappointed in his hope of seeing active service in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882, he participated in the Suakin campaign of 1884 without official leave, and was wounded at El Teb when acting as an intelligence officer under General Valentine Baker. This did not deter him from a similar course when a fresh expedition started up the Nile. He was given a post by Lord Wolseley, and met his death in the hand-to-hand fighting of the Battle of Abu Klea.
Date Created/Placed: Unknown
Address:
St Philips Cathedral
Temple Row
Birmingham
Height: 50 feet plus
Illuminated: no
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Give a narrative of your experience. What did you think of the obelisk? Did you learn anything? Photos are always welcome too. Please no virtual visits.