BOOTLE WAR MEMORIAL

Stanley (or King’s) Gardens, Stanley Road, Bootle, Sefton, Merseyside L20 7DA

Bootle’s War Memorial is located in Stanley (or King’s) Gardens, on Stanley Road. Listed upon the memorial are the names of 1311 Service men and three women who gave their lives in the Great War.

The Memorial

In 1920 the War Memorial Sub Committee was established to organise the creation and design of a suitable memorial; the project was funded by public subscription and a local council grant.

The Bootle War Memorial in King’s Gardens commemorates the fallen in both world wars and subsequent conflicts, and stands upon a platform of two circular steps. It is approached on the Stanley Road side using six steps. Materials used included York stone and specially selected grey Forest of Dean stone for construction. Art Director Mr. Hubert E. Bulmer A.R.C.A. (London) designed the memorial, and Mr Hermon Cawthra A.R.C.A. (London) cast the figures and wreaths in bronze.

Atop the memorial stands a figure in bronze depicting a mother holding her child, symbolising life and hope. The three bronze figures representing the military services (Army, Navy and Air Force) stand guard, and the names of the fallen appear around the base, using twelve bronze plates. Henry A. Clegg & Sons of Chester erected the memorial under the supervision of the Borough Engineer of Bootle, Mr. B. J. Wolfenden; A.M.I.C.E.

Unveiling Ceremony

Bootle War Memorial was unveiled in King’s Gardens on Sunday 15th October 1922; thousands of people attended the ceremony to honour the fallen. Present at the unveiling were War Memorial Committee members, and County Borough of Bootle officers and dignitaries. The 7th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment formed a guard of honour, while the Bootle Municipal Military Band played softly.

A Union Jack flag covered the panels and the Mayor of Bootle, Alderman J. H. Johnson, spoke of the sacrifice made by 1007 Bootle men and women who gave their lives in the Great War. Major James Burnie M.C. gave a speech commemorating his comrades and removed the Union Jack flag covering the panels, while the band played Chopin’s ‘Funeral March’. ‘The Last Post’ was sounded, followed by two minutes silence and then ‘Reveille’ was played. The hymn “For all the Saints” was sung and a dedicatory Prayer followed.

The Mayor declared the memorial to be a gift from the subscribers (including the corporation) to the town forever, and The Chairman of the Parks and Library Committee, Councillor Mr Hughes, accepted on behalf of the Municipality the guardianship of the memorial. The Mayor, dignitaries, relatives and friends then came forward to lay flowers.

The fallen from the Second World War were commemorated on Sunday 15th April 1956 when a further inscription was added. Mr J. Spence of the Memorial Committee unveiled the memorial tablets containing the names of the fallen; Major Salt and the Chief Constable marshalled the procession.

Names from subsequent conflicts have been added, and the memorial was re-dedicated on Saturday 3rd September 2016.

The Order of Service from 1922 can be viewed at Sefton Libraries Information Service Unit at Crosby Library.

Second World War inscription reads:

In Memory of the men of the Liverpool Escort Force who gave their lives 1939-1945
“I am the resurrection and the life” Saith the Lord.