Onchan Parish War Memorial

On a crisp Isle of Man day, let’s pause at the Onchan Parish War Memorial. This limestone sentinel, etched with a Celtic cross, stands as a poignant reminder of sacrifice. The Onchan Parish War Memorial originally stood on Whitebridge Road. It was moved to its current location in 1982 due to road widening. Originally unveiled in 1924, the memorial was a community effort, funded by public subscription and designed by Archibald Knox and Thos. Quayle. The Onchan Parish War Memorial lists the names of 34 individuals from Onchan who perished in the First World War. The inscription reads, “In Memory of [listed names] of Onchan who died in the Great War 1914-1918.” Later, additional plaques were added, also crafted by Thos. Quayle, to commemorate those lost in the Second World War. Thirty-seven names are listed from that conflict. The memorial also bears the names of one individual lost in the Troubles in Northern Ireland and another in the Gulf War. Look closely at the surrounding wall behind the memorial. You’ll find an inscription of the first verse of Rupert Brooke’s poem “The Dead”. The words speak of lives filled with joy, sorrow, and the simple beauties of the earth, all tragically cut short. Even the paved area in front of the memorial holds further poems, etched into tablets, adding another layer of remembrance. The Onchan Parish War Memorial stands not just as a list of names, but as a testament to the human cost of conflict, a place where the community can gather to remember and reflect.