Royal Fusiliers of London Regiment Memorial - London, England, UK
Posted by: Metro2
N 51° 31.100 W 000° 06.649
30U E 700446 N 5711425
This sculpture located in London's Holburn neighborhood was refurbished in 2003.
Waymark Code: WMDEFG
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/03/2012
Views: 5
Originally dedicated in 1920 to those members of the London Regiment of Royal Fusiliers lost in World War I, an inscription for those lost during World War II was added later. The English sculptor is Albert Toft(1862-1949).
This website (
visit link) discusses the work:
"A bronze statue of a Royal Fusilier in battle dress, mounted on a tall Portland stone pedestal plinth with a stepped base, dedicated to both the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 wars.
Prior to conservation in 2003, the lower inscriptions had worn slightly due to traffic spray, and the carved 1939-1945 numbers were becoming difficult to read. There was also some loss of mortar from the lower block joints. The bronze castings were in sound structural condition but the surface was dull flat black in colour due to heavy black wax on the surface, which disguised the generally green, naturally-formed patination beneath. Overall the monument was dirty, with an overlay of loose dirt and traffic film.
The conservation began with steam cleaning of the bronze work to remove the heavily polluted black wax, followed by selective over patination to change the green to brown, so restoring the colour of the bronze to that which was originaly intended. This was followed by the application of four coats of clear wax, the first coat applied to the bronze after warming with gas torches to allow the wax to penetrate the patina. The stonework was washed with low pressure water and detergent, and the loose mortar from the damaged joints raked out and replaced with a colour-matched hydraulic lime."
Some additional photos of the monument and a discussion about the artist's other works can be seen at (
visit link)