Laurence Binyon ‘For The Fallen’ - Merchant Navy Memorial – Liverpool, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 24.240 W 002° 59.820
30U E 500199 N 5917213
A famous and poignant quote is etched on this war memorial plaque remembering all men and women of the merchant navy who lost their lives in World War I and World War II.
Waymark Code: WMCJF5
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/12/2011
Views: 7
Inscribed on the memorial is the 4th stanza from the war poem ‘For the Fallen’. This poem was written by poet Laurence Binyon (1869 – 1943). He studied at Trinity College, Oxford where he won the Newdigate poetry prize.
His poem ‘For The Fallen’ was based on his early experiences during World War I, and his fourth stanza is often used on war memorials.
The quote is as follows.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. Binyon (1869 – 1943)
It should be noted that line 2 is nearly always misquoted on memorials. The correct line is
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
On this and most memorials the word contemn is inscribed as condemn. This is not a commonly known word but according to Dictioanry.com it means to 'Treat or regard with contempt'. The line does make sense with the word condemn, but I think contemn is better (providing you understand what it means).
The rest of the plaque on this face of the memorial is as follows
DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
WILLINGLY FOR THE FREEDOM
OF OTHERS, AND HAVE NO
GRAVE BUT THE SEA
There is another plaque on the opposite face as follows
1914 – 1918 1939 - 1945
AND ALL
THIS MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO
THE MERCHANT NAVY WAS DONATED
TO THE PEOPLE OF LIVERPOOL BY THE
LIVERPOOL RETIRED MERCHANT SEAFARERS
AND HANDED TO THE CITY BY THE
RT. HONOURABLE JOHN PRESCOTT
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
30th OCTOBER 1998