Monument Gallery

Unveiling the Cenotaph SAM01/02/0074

The unveiling ceremony of the Cenotaph on Whitehall, Westminster, Greater London. The Cenotaph was unveiled on Armistice Day, 11 November, 1920 by King George V. He is shown in this photograph to the right of the Cenotaph, having just pushed the button which caused the two Union Jack flags to fall (they can be seen at the base of the memorial). The memorial to the war dead was constructed by Sir Edward Lutyens in 1919-20. From the Julian Joseph Samuels collection

© Historic England Archive

Sir John Moore monument CC97_01091

Sir John Moore Monument, St Paul's Cathedral, London. A view of the monument by John Bacon (1815) on the south wall of the South Transept to Sir John Moore. General Sir John Moore commanded British forces in Spain in 1808-09. On the advance of 200, 000 enemy troops, Moore drew the French northwards towards his embarkation point in Galicia. A rearguard action at the Battle of Corunna bought breathing space to embark the British forces, but resulted in Moore's death in battle. This heroic death was celebrated in poetry by Charles Wolfe. Moore was also honoured by the French with a monument over his grave at La Coruna. Photographed by York and Son between 1870-1900

© Historic England