Bridge of Remembrance

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bridge of Remembrance, Christchurch

The Bridge of Remembrance (Bridge of Remembrance) is a war memorial in the city of Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand . It is dedicated to the New Zealand war dead of the First World War , but also commemorates the other participants in both world wars as well as the later conflicts in Borneo, Korea , Malaya and Vietnam . The structure is owned by the Christchurch City Council and was erected over the east end of Cashel Street Bridge , where it runs into the City Mall .

geography

The archway was built at the east end of Cashel Street Bridge and connected to Oxford Terrace and Cambridge Terrace , which are separated by the Avon River . Since the ANZAC Day on April 25, 1977, the bridge is a pedestrian zone ., Since the earthquake of 2011 it is locked. To the east of it was the commercial center with the actual pedestrian zone until the earthquake.

history

The idea of ​​building the Bridge of Remembrance was first raised on July 24, 1919 in a letter to The Press written by Wyn Irwin's wife . Their proposal found public support. Construction began on January 23, 1923. The keystone was laid by Lord Jellicoe , Governor General and Fleet Admiral, on ANZAC Day 1923. Archbishop Churchill Julius blessed the building.

The memorial was unveiled by Lord Jellicoe on November 11, 1924, Armistice Day . Coming from the King Edward Barracks further west on Cashel Street , the soldiers once crossed the Avon River here and marched on to the Christchurch Railway Station to fight in three wars.

On April 2, 1985, the Bridge of Remembrance was registered as a Category I Cultural Monument by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust .

The monument was renovated in two phases. The first phase was carried out in 1989, the second phase began two years later and was concluded on June 21, 1992 with a ceremony to mark the placing of a plaque.

design

The architectural competition was won by the architecture firm Prouse and Gummer , William Gummer was the author of the design. The motto " Quid non pro patria " ("What [ one does not ] for the fatherland") is carved into the central arch . There are several plaques commemorating military units, as well as a plaque dedicated to Charles Hazlitt Upham . The building is ornamented. The symbolic features of the monument include a cross, torches, coats of arms, laurel wreaths, the Latin inscription, as well as decorations with fascines and rosemary. The existing lion heads were made by Frederick George Gurnsey .

Web links

Commons : Bridge of Remembrance, Christchurch  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Peter Hinze: New Zealand (=  Nelles Guide ). Hunter Publishing , Palm Beach, Florida 2000, ISBN 978-3-88618-905-2 , pp. 157 (English).
  2. ↑ a b c d The Bridge of Remembrance . Christchurch City Libraries , accessed January 5, 2018 .
  3. ↑ a b Kate Hooper : DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: New Zealand (=  Nelles Guide ). Penguin , London 2010, ISBN 978-0-7566-6324-7 , pp.  223, 226 ff . (English).
  4. ↑ The Bridge of Remembrance . Christchurch City Council , September 29, 2014, archived from the original on May 10, 2015 ; accessed on February 3, 2016 .
  5. ↑ Christchurch: a chronology 1977 . Christchurch City Libraries , accessed June 18, 2011 .
  6. ^ Wyn Irwin : Extracts from the address by Wyn Irwin, secretary of the Bridge of Remembrance Committee, foundation stone ceremony . Christchurch City Libraries , April 25, 1923, accessed June 18, 2011 .
  7. ^ A b Christchurch War Memorial Bridge of Remembrance - History and Symbolic Features . (PDF 438 kB) Christchurch City Libraries , 1924, accessed on June 18, 2011 (English).
  8. ^ Kirsten Ellis, Robert Holmes : Traveler's Companion New Zealand . Globe Pequot Press , Guilford, Connecticut 2003, ISBN 978-0-7627-2520-5 , pp. 276 (English).
  9. ^ Herbert W. Pollock : None Shall Forget . Six Star Publishing , 2002, ISBN 978-0-7414-0862-4 , pp. 59 ff . (English).
  10. ^ Bridge of Remembrance. Historic Place Category 1. In: New Zealand Heritage List / Rārangi Kōrero . Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga , April 2, 1985, accessed September 23, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Christchurch Bridge of Remembrance was memorial . In: New Zealand History . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , accessed on June 18, 2011 (English, numerous photos of the building, some with inscriptions).
  12. ↑ Michael Dunn : New Zealand sculpture: a history . Auckland University Press , Auckland 2002, ISBN 978-1-86940-277-8 , pp.  44 ff . (English).

Coordinates: 43 ° 31 ′ 59.2 ″  S , 172 ° 38 ′ 0.2 ″  E