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Brian's 2010 tour of Brighton and Hove

War Memorial: Old Steine

By Brian Dungate

To follow this tour, click on the links on the right.

War Memorial: Old Steine

Photo by Brian Dungate

The ultimate sacrifice

Both my father and paternal grandfather fought in the Great War; my grandfather making the ultimate sacrifice. His is one of the names on the War Memorial in Old Steine and I regularly attended the services on Remembrance Day with my father. At the age of 21 he found himself responsible, with his widowed mother, for his two brothers and two sisters.

Two minutes silence

These memorial services were, understandably, much larger events in the years after the Second World War and they were incredibly moving. All the bustle of life for the living ceased absolutely for two minutes. For those who had died it was just two minutes of eternal silence.

Remembering the city's fallen

It is to the credit of the town that the upkeep of the memorial has been improved in recent years. Perhaps what I find most satisfying is that the town's dead are remembered here in the very heart of our beautiful city, surrounded by familiar haunts. Sadly, they were never to see again the Old Steine garden and fountain itself, the Palace Pier (as it was then), the Pavilion, The Aquarium (Sea Life Centre today), Castle Square and The Lanes.

War Memorial: Old Steine

This page was added on 17/05/2010.

Comments about this page

My Grandfather and two of his brothers are named on this memorial. My Mum was born five months after her Dad died, he had only been in France for three months.My Gran was left to bring up six children on her own and lived in Railway Street for over seventy years, Mum is the last of her siblings alive (92) Grandad is buried in Belicourt Cemetry, one brother in Caterpillar Valley, the other in Brighton and Preston (he died of wounds in England)

By John Cording (19/03/2011)

My late husband Michael's grandfather is named on here. John Charles Tonks.

By Jennifer Tonks (20/03/2011)

I forgot to add my ancestors names: Henry Offen, Abraham Offen, Frank Offen.

By John Cording (31/03/2011)

My father's Great Uncle is commemorated one of the obelisks at this wonderful War Memorial. His name was LEONARD GEORGE HUDSON. Portsmouth born but he was married in the now demolished St. Saviours Church and lived in Brighton prior to his recall to the colours. He is buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery, Belgium having been killed in action during the battle of Paschendaele. The photograph of the Memorial shown above manages to capture it beautifully. It really is a credit to Brighton and those named upon it. May this degree of maintainance continue.

By Tony Pitt (04/03/2012)