Remembering Gibraltarans of WW1 and WW2
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| 1. The Gibraltar (British) War Memorial [Line Wall Road, Gibraltar] |
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| 2. Gibraltarian WW1 and WW2 Memorials [Located in the lobby of Gibraltar's Parliament] |
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| 3. Gibraltar Defence Force Memorial [Casemates Square, Gibraltar] |
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posted by ritsonvaljos at 10:46 pm
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Additional information
Introduction
Gibraltar has a history of being a British military garrison and naval base for over 300 years. Among Gibraltar's many memorials are a number that commemorate Gibraltarians and the role of Gibraltar in the two World Wars. Some of these can be seen in the above photographs.
The 'Gibraltar War Memorial' or, as it is often referred to, the 'British War Memorial', is situated along Line Wall Road, Gibraltar at the top of the Smith-Dorrien steps [Photograph No 1]. It commemorates the 'Fallen' of the First World War or, as it was generally referred to in the 1920s, the 'Great War'. It is made from Carrara marble and was sculpted by Señor Jose Piquet Catoli of Barcelona, Spain. It was unveiled on 27 September 1923 by the Governor of Gibraltar, the Hon. Sir Charles Monro. Either side of this memorial are two Russian canons captured during the Crimean War and presented to Gibraltar in 1858.
On the ground floor lobby of Gibraltar's Parliament building (previously The Exchange building), between John Mackintosh Square and Main Street, are commemorative memorials for Gibraltarians who died while serving with the Armed Forces during WW1 and WW2 [Photograph No 2]. The upper memorial seen in this photograph commemorates those who died in WW2. Beneath it is a memorial which commemorates the thirteen Gibraltarians who died in WW1 and in particular the gallantry of Lt. Solomon Benzecry at Bourlon Wood during the Battle of Cambrai in 1917.
Lt. Benzecry was a member of the Gibraltarian Jewish community serving with the London Regiment attached to the 17th Royal Fusiliers. His image is shown on on the medallion in the middle of the memorial. Lt. Benzecry is also described on this memorial plaque as "... the hero of Bourlon Wood".
In Casemates Square, Gibraltar is a monument commemorating the Gibraltarians who served in the Gibraltar Defence Force (G.D.F.) during WW2 and their successors who have served in the Gibraltar Regiment. It was unveiled on 4 July 1998 by the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, the Hon. Peter Caruana. The G.D.F. was effectively a Territorial Unit of the Royal Artillery founded in 1939 at the suggestion of the Governor, General Sir Edmond Ironside. The statue represents a member of the G.D.F. in summer battle dress looking upwards and outwards from the Rock, ready to defend their home to the utmost.
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Gibraltarians of WW1 commemorated on the British War Memorial.
The Gibraltar (British) War Memorial commemorates thirteen Gibraltarians who gave their lives during the First World War. One of the panels on the memorial has the names of these thirteen men inscribed on it. They are listed alphabetically by surname.
This is what is written on this panel:
IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
OF THE
CITIZENS OF GIBRALTAR
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR.
______ + ______
BENZECRY, Solomon
BOSSANO, Leopoldo
CUSTAYINO, Joseph
HARRISON, Lionel Joseph Briggs
JONES, Albert
OLIVERI, Edward
PIRI, Francis Daniel
PITMAN, Michael Albany Wallace
READING, Harry
RUGGIER, Alfred J.
RYAN, Andrew
STEWART, Thomas
UNDERY, John
.......................
This is the CWGC citation for the Gibraltarian WW1 casualty Lieutenant Solomon Benzecry whose image appears on the lower memorial seen in photograph No 2:
Name: BENZECRY, SOLOMON
Date of Death: 30/11/1917
Regiment/Service: London Regiment, 10th Bn.
(attd. 17th Bn. Royal Fusiliers),
Panel Reference: Panel 11.
Memorial:CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Additional Information: (None)
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Gibraltarians of WW2 commemorated on the Gibraltar Parliament tablet
The commemorative tablet on the ground floor of Gibraltar's Parliament for those who died during WW2 reads as follows:
IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR
OF 1939 - 1945
J. AZZOPARDI
J. CALAMARO
A.W. CARBONI
G.A. EPSWORTH
T. HANKEY
C.W. HOSKEN
J.R. RUGERONI
A.A. SANGUINETTI
J. VIOTTI
J.J. ZAMITT
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The Gibraltar Defence Force Memorial
The tablet on the plinth of the G.D.F. memorial in Casemates Square reads as follows:
"This statue is of a Gibraltar Defence Force soldier in summer battle dress. His guard duty posture is symbolic of the role undertaken in the defence of the Rock during WWII.
This monument is dedicated to all Gibraltarians who served in:
The Gibraltar Volunteer Corps
The Gibraltar Defence Force
and
The Gibraltar Regiment.
This plaque was unveiled by the Chief Minister, the Hon. Peter Caruana on the fourth day of July 1998."
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Dedication
This article is dedicated to all the Gibraltarians who gave their lives during the two World Wars.
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