Machine Gun Corps - Figure of David

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Reference WMO/120438

Address:

Hyde Park Corner

Westminster

London

SW1W 0QH

England

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War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace
Description: Allegory (eg: Victory)
Lettering: Incised
Conflicts:
  • First World War (1914-1918)
About the memorial: The sculptor of this memorial is F. Derwent Wood. Unveiled on the 10th May 1925 by the Duke of Connaught at Hyde Park Corner it features a bronze statue in the Renaissance style depicting the youthful David after his defeat of Goliath, on lower plinths flanking the figure are two bronze models of Vickers machine guns , wreathed in laurels. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayfair & Hyde Park Walk: In September 1915 it was proposed that a single specialist Corp be introduced to the Army particularly to operate the light Lewis machine guns. By the end of the war about 170,000 men had served in these Corps of which 3000 were killed and nearly 50,000 wounded, reported missing or became prisoners of war. The Boy David harks back to the story in the Christian Bible of the boy who against apparently overwhelming odds slayed the giant. His strength was said to have come from God and showed the power of good over evil. The memorial was originally positioned next to Grosvenor Place but moved to its current site in 1963. It design was based on a statue in Chelsea Embankment Gardens >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Route: Continue walking in a clockwise direction to see New Zealand memorial. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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On the front Erected to/commemorate/the glorious/heroes/of the/Machine Gun/Corps/who fell in/the Great/War Saul hath his thousands/but David his tens of thousands MCMXIV MCMXIX ON the back The Machine Gun Corps/of which His Majesty King/George V was Colonel-in/Chief, was formed by Royal/Warrant dated the 14th day/of October 1915. The Corps served in/ France, \Flanders, Russia, Italy/Egypt, Palestine/Mesopotamia/Salonica/India, Afghanistan/and East Africa. The last unit of the Corps/to be disbanded was the/Depot at Shorncliffe pm the/15th day of July 1922. The/total Number who served in/the Corps was some 11,500/Officers and 159,000 other/ranks of whom 1120 Officers/and 12671 other ranks were/ killed and 2881 Officers and 45377 other ranks were/wounded missing or prisoners/of war. Sculptor: Derwent Wood

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Grade II* (England)

https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1226874

1226874

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English Heritage

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/