Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth
The Plymouth Naval Memorial, prominently located on The Hoe and overlooking the scenic Plymouth Sound stands as a solemn tribute to British and Commonwealth sailors who perished during the First and Second World Wars and have no known graves.
The origins of the memorial trace back to the aftermath of World War I, when the Royal Navy sought a meaningful way to honor sailors and Royal Marines lost at sea. An Admiralty committee proposed the construction of memorials at Britain’s three major naval ports: Plymouth, Chatham, and Portsmouth. Sir Robert Lorimer was appointed as the designer for these significant monuments, with sculptural work by Henry Poole. The Plymouth Memorial was unveiled on July 29, 1924, marking a significant moment of remembrance for the nation.
Following the conclusion of World War II, the memorials required expansion to include the names of those who had fallen during the subsequent conflict. The architectural enhancements at Plymouth were overseen by Sir Edward Maufe, with sculptural contributions by Charles Wheeler and William McMillan.
The Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates a total of 7,251 sailors from World War I and 15,933 from World War II. These names represent not only those from the United Kingdom but also sailors from Australia, South Africa, and India, emphasizing the breadth of Commonwealth contributions and sacrifices.
Central to the design is an imposing obelisk, bearing the names of the fallen in a poignant arrangement. The names of those who died in the First World War are inscribed on panels affixed to the obelisk’s base, while the panels for the Second World War are integrated into the surrounding wall. Within each year of death, the names are organized by service branch, followed by rank and surname, creating a structured and respectful memorial to those who served and were lost.
The Plymouth Naval Memorial continues to be a place of remembrance and reflection, reminding visitors of the profound human cost of war and the enduring legacy of those who served their country at sea.
The origins of the memorial trace back to the aftermath of World War I, when the Royal Navy sought a meaningful way to honor sailors and Royal Marines lost at sea. An Admiralty committee proposed the construction of memorials at Britain’s three major naval ports: Plymouth, Chatham, and Portsmouth. Sir Robert Lorimer was appointed as the designer for these significant monuments, with sculptural work by Henry Poole. The Plymouth Memorial was unveiled on July 29, 1924, marking a significant moment of remembrance for the nation.
Following the conclusion of World War II, the memorials required expansion to include the names of those who had fallen during the subsequent conflict. The architectural enhancements at Plymouth were overseen by Sir Edward Maufe, with sculptural contributions by Charles Wheeler and William McMillan.
The Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates a total of 7,251 sailors from World War I and 15,933 from World War II. These names represent not only those from the United Kingdom but also sailors from Australia, South Africa, and India, emphasizing the breadth of Commonwealth contributions and sacrifices.
Central to the design is an imposing obelisk, bearing the names of the fallen in a poignant arrangement. The names of those who died in the First World War are inscribed on panels affixed to the obelisk’s base, while the panels for the Second World War are integrated into the surrounding wall. Within each year of death, the names are organized by service branch, followed by rank and surname, creating a structured and respectful memorial to those who served and were lost.
The Plymouth Naval Memorial continues to be a place of remembrance and reflection, reminding visitors of the profound human cost of war and the enduring legacy of those who served their country at sea.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Plymouth. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Plymouth Naval Memorial on Map
Sight Name: Plymouth Naval Memorial
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Plymouth, England
Create Your Own Walk in Plymouth
Creating your own self-guided walk in Plymouth is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Plymouth Introduction Walking Tour
Plymouth's early history began in the Bronze Age when the first settlement emerged at Mount Batten. It is mentioned in Ptolemy's Geographia as a maritime outpost exporting bronze mirrors.
The settlement was a major port in the southwest of England in Roman times. It was surpassed as a port in the ninth century by the nearby wealthier village of Sutton, later called Plymouth.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
The settlement was a major port in the southwest of England in Roman times. It was surpassed as a port in the ninth century by the nearby wealthier village of Sutton, later called Plymouth.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Pilgrim Fathers Trail
Back in the early 17th century, a group of English Puritans – nowadays reverently referred to as the Pilgrim Fathers – fled religious persecution in their homeland and established a colony in North America that later became known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims embarked on their perilous journey across the Atlantic from Plymouth, England in 1620 aboard a ship called the Mayflower,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Plymouth Hoe Walking Tour
Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south-facing open public space in Plymouth with commanding views of Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island, and further afield into Cornwall. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon word hoh, which means a sloping ridge shaped like an inverted foot and heel.
This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles