South African War Memorial, Cardiff

South African War Memorial
South African War Memorial
Boer War Memorial
Cardiff Council
	For Welsh soldiers who fought in the Second Boer War
Established	1908
Unveiled	20 November 1909
Location	near Cardiff Crown Court and City Hall, Cardiff
Designed by	Albert Toft
	TO THE MEMORY; OF THE WELSHMEN WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA; 1899–1902; ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION; Then a list of 817 names with the rank, regiment, forename, manner of death and decorations.
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	South African War Memorial
Designated	25 January 1966
Reference no.	13745 (Cadw)

The South African War Memorial, also known as the Boer War Memorial, is a war memorial in Cardiff, Wales. It was erected in 1908 and unveiled by General Sir John French on 20 November 1909 to honour the victims of the Second Boer War. It is a Grade II* listed structure.^[1]

Design

The memorial was sculpted by the English sculptor, Albert Toft.^[1] It stands at the south end of Edward VII Avenue, between the Cardiff Crown Court and City Hall in Cathays Park and is the centre of a U bend in the cul-de-sac. It was moved to its present location in the 1970s.^[2]

Statues on the memorial

Peace

Grief

War and courage

The memorial consists of a bronze winged figure of peace holding an uprooted olive tree and standing on an orb, mounted on Portland Stone plinth with granite steps. On each corner stands metal lampstands with glass globe. It has two figures, a seated male figure (representing war and courage), on the western side (left of the main inscription), holding a sword & leaning on a shield. A seated female figure (representing grief) on the eastern side (right of the main inscription), holding a wreath and also leaning on a shield. The memorial is dedicated to "Welshmen" who served in a variety of units during the war.