“Homecoming” echoes in the bronze. The Cambridge War Memorial stands here. It’s more than a statue. It’s a story frozen in time.
This Cambridge War Memorial was unveiled in 1922. It became a Grade II listed building in 1996. The memorial honors those who served in the Great War and World War II.
After World War I, Cambridge debated how to best honor its war dead. Ideas included a clock tower and cottages for injured soldiers. A memorial committee formed in 1919. It included leaders from the city and university. They considered improvements to Addenbrooke’s Hospital too.
Fundraising proved slow. The colleges preferred to commemorate their own dead. They did so within their chapels. Still, a plan emerged. It included memorials at Addenbrooke’s, Ely Cathedral, and a monument in Cambridge.
Sculptor Robert Tait McKenzie designed the Cambridge War Memorial. He was Canadian. He created an 8-foot sculpture of a soldier to represent Victory. The memorial was planned for Hills Road near the railway station. Parker’s Piece was rejected. It was closer to the city center. It served as a parade ground during the war.
The statue tops a limestone plinth. It depicts a soldier of the Cambridgeshire Regiment. The figure is slightly larger than life-size at 7 feet tall.
McKenzie modeled the soldier on Kenneth Hamilton. Hamilton was an undergraduate at Christ’s College. The soldier strides purposefully. His rifle rests on his left shoulder. He glances back towards Cambridge railway station.
He is bareheaded. He holds his helmet and a rose in his right hand. Another rose lies at his feet. A laurel wreath adorns his rifle. A German helmet hangs on his backpack. It is a war trophy.
The plinth resembles a sarcophagus. It bears carvings of armorial bearings. An inscription reads: “To the men of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, the Borough and University of Cambridge who served in the Great War 1914–1919” Later, they added “And in the World War 1939–1945”.
The Duke of York, later George VI, unveiled the memorial in 1922. Thousands attended the ceremony. The bronze statue wasn’t ready. A gilded plaster cast stood in its place. The bronze was erected later. It was dedicated the following year.
The Cambridge War Memorial has been moved twice. In 1952, it shifted further up Hills Road. In 2012, it moved closer to the Botanic Garden entrance.
McKenzie described his “Home-comer”. He is a private soldier returning from war. Discipline relaxed. He strides along bare-headed. A German helmet is slung on his back. He holds a rose. Another rose lies on the ground. His head turns. His expression is happy. He recognizes an old friend.
The face reflects the type upon whom the future of England must depend. McKenzie aimed to capture this essence. He captured it in bronze.
The Cambridge War Memorial serves as a reminder. It recalls sacrifice and resilience. It embodies the spirit of homecoming. It honors those who served. It stands as a testament to Cambridge’s enduring connection to its people.