Leeds City War Memorial as it is often called, or Leeds War Memorial is the principal civic memorial in Leeds dedicated to those from the city who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. It’s an important site for remembrance ceremonies, especially on Remembrance Day.
It was unveiled on 14 October 1922, originally in City Square before being moved to Victoria Square/Gardens in the late 1930s due to traffic changes.
Its designer is Henry Charles Fehr, with later sculptural contributions by Ian Judd. A replacement statue was added in 1991.
It commemorates Leeds servicemen and women who died in World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945).
In 1940 the winged victory was taken down for repair, in 1946 the figure was put back. In 1965 the victory figure was taken down when it moved in a gale. It was re-erected in Cottingley crematorium and the head is now in the museum, In 1991 the angel of peace was erected to replace the original figure.
The memorial is a 7 meters high marble obelisk topped by a bronze “Angel of Peace” statue holding roses, installed in 1991/92. There are several bronze figures:
- Peace releasing a dove (north side
- Saint George and the Dragon (south side)
- Four owls on the obelisk corners, symbolising Leeds.
The inscriptions on the memorial on each face reads:
- INVICTIS PAX (north face)
- OVR GLORIOVS DEAD (west face)
- HONOVR TO THE FALLEN (east face)
- PRO PATRIA (south face)
It remains the focal point for Leeds’ annual Remembrance Sunday ceremonies, with wreath-laying and civic observances taking place here.
Visit
Victoria Square in Leeds, formerly in Victoria Gardens, but now placed at: The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It can be found near Leeds City Art Gallery and opposite Leeds Central Library.
