Cowley Barracks War memorial

Did the stones of Cowley Barracks whisper secrets to the wind? Let’s explore this memorial, a tribute to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Cowley Barracks, initially known as Bullingdon Barracks, was completed in 1876. Constructed with Charlbury stone in the Fortress Gothic Revival style, these barracks served as a vital military installation. The original plan was to place the war memorial outside the barracks. However, no suitable location was found. Instead, the memorial found its home on Rose Hill, its silhouette stark against the sky. The Cowley Barracks War Memorial commemorates the soldiers who served and fell in World War I. This memorial is a poignant obelisk atop a pedestal, with the regimental cap badge proudly displayed. The inscription on the west face reads: “TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF 5878 OF ALL RANKS OF THE OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR”. Later, another inscription was added to the east face, honoring those lost in World War II. This obelisk design, while echoing other regimental memorials, stands out for its simplicity. The Cowley Barracks, once a bustling hub of military activity, is now a part of Oxford Brookes University, transformed into student accommodation. Yet, the memory of the soldiers lives on, etched in stone at the Cowley Barracks War Memorial, a solemn reminder of their sacrifice.