First World War Memorial

1922. Sculptor: Charles S Jagger
Location: The Embankment, opposite Rothsay Road

Bedford Town Centre Book Home |The Statue | The Sculptor | Images

This white marble semi-abstract figure representing Justice Armed was unveiled on 20 July 1922, to commemorate those men of the town who died in the Great War [First World War 1914-1918]. An inscriptions reads: "To Bedfordians who died / many in early youth / some full of years and honour / but who all alike gave their lives for their country". The inscription gives the years 1914-1919. Although the Armistice of 11 November 1918 marked the end of hostilities, war with Germany officially ended at the signing of the Peace Treaty at the Paris Peace Conference, Versailles on 28 June 1919.

The figure is clad in a Crusader' s armour, with a soldier' s cloak and hands crossed on a two-handed sword. Beneath the figure' s feet is a chained dragon representing evil conquered. In the final stages, the sculptor decided to make the figure female by softening the face and adding plaits. Following the Second World War [1939-1945] a further inscription "To commemorate the struggles and sacrifice of Bedfordians" was added, and subsequently, for the Korean War [1950-53] "To commemorate the Korean War".

The Sculptor

Charles Sargeant Jagger [1885-1934] is recognised as one of Britain' s greatest sculptors of figurative war memorials. Unusually for a memorial artist, he actually fought in the First World War, having joined the army when war broke out in 1914. He was wounded on three occasions, and awarded the Military Cross for bravery. His other many war memorials created in the 1920s include the impressive Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, and the moving Great Western Railway Memorial at Paddington, London.