War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A granite memorial by F.Ransom commemorating the fallen in the two World Wars, dating from 1922, with bronze statue of Victory with sword in one hand and a palm branch in the other on an Irish granite pedestal, located at the junction of Kerr Street and Mark Street in the centre of Portrush. Pedestal, on a two-stepped plinth, has various bronze plaques to each face commemorating those lost in both wars. Bronze tablet to front of pedestal is engraved with a representation of a sea scene with battleships in the foreground. The inscription reads “TO THE/BRAVE MEN/ OF THIS DISTRICT/ WHO RESPONDED TO DUTY’S CALL/ AND HELPED TO WIN/ THE/ VICTORY/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918”. This plaques it surmounted by a bronze wreath. On the base, a plaque reads “THE NAMES INSCRIBED THEREON ARE OF THOSE FROM THIS TOWN/AND DISSTRICT WHO AT THE CALL OF KING AND COUNTRY/ LEFT ALL THAT WAS DEAR TO THEM, ENDURED HARDSHIP/ FACED DANGER AND FINALLY PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF/ MEN BY THE PATH OF DUTY AND SELF SACRIFICE GIVING UP/ THEIR OWN LIVES THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM”. Commemorative plaques engraved with the names of the fallen to other three sides. Inscription to east side of capstone reads: “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”; that to west reads “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY”.

Setting:

Prominently sited at the junction of Kerr Street and Mark Street outside of the town hall (HB03/10/001), the memorial sits on two stone steps and is enclosed by cast-iron arrow-head railings.

Material: Granite and bronze

Historical information

Portrush War Memorial, an Irish granite pedestal surmounted by a sculpture by Frank Ransom, dates from 1922 and represents Victory with a sword in one hand and a palm branch in the other. The pedestal carries a bronze plaque showing a maritime scene with battleships in the foreground. (www.ulsterwarmemorials.net; Thompson) The ‘Memorial’ is first shown, captioned, on the fourth edition OS map of 1921-31.

The decision was taken to erect a war memorial in March 1920 and Frank Ransom of Golders Green in London was chosen as the sculptor on the recommendation of Sir George Frampton. The figure of Victory was commissioned for a fee of £1,300 and the memorial was unveiled on Armistice Day 1922. It was later decided to purchase bronze plates for the memorial from Messrs Gardiner & Co Ltd at a cost of just over £100. (Thompson)

The population of Portrush and District was then about 3,000 and 300 fought in the First World War, seventy-five of whom did not return. Portrush lost eleven young men from the town in the battle of the Somme, the heaviest loss sustained by the town. Robert Thompson’s research into the names on the memorial has established that John Tosh has been mistakenly written for John McIntosh. Joe Miller and Joe Johnston have been discovered to be the same person. (Thompson)

As was usual, further names were added to the memorial following the Second World War and a plaque has recently been added in memory of the men of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division who were stationed in Portrush between December 1943 and March 1944.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1921-31
2. PRONI OS/6/1/2/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1946-50

Secondary Sources

1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Antrim including the towns of Portrush, Ballymoney and Bushmills” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975
2. Thompson, R “Portrush Heroes 1914-1918
3. www.ulsterwarmemorials.net

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A landmark granite memorial by F.Ransom commemorating the fallen in the two World Wars, dating from 1922, with bronze statue of Victory with sword in one hand and a palm branch in the other on an Irish granite pedestal, located at the junction of Kerr Street and Mark Street in the centre of Portrush. A bronze tablet to front depicts a sea scene with battleships. Portrush war memorial is a fixed memorial of high artistic and craft value, commemorating those who lost their lives in both World Wars. The memorial contributes to the variety and character of the surrounding area and is of considerable social importance and interest to the local community.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R - Age, S - Authenticity