More than a Rock

When the first settlers arrived in New England (USA) they weren't prepared for the harsh reality of the environment or the locals.  These strangers were welcomed by the chieftain of the Mohegan tribe, Mohomet Weyonomon.  He helped them survive the harsh winters and to repel Indian attacks from other tribes.

The new settlers showed their gratitude by stealing the tribes hunting and planting land. It reached such proportions that in 1735 Mahomomet and three supporters sailed to England to petition King George II for the return of their lands.  While waiting to see the king The Indian chieftain contracted smallpox and died.  He was buried in an unmarked grave. (and as we know the lands were never returned!)

Not forgotten by his descendants the Mohegan tribe requested a proper memorial and ceremony for their past chief.  This stone comes from Mohegan lands and carved with forms that reflect ancient customs.  In the grounds of Southwark Cathedral the stone was unveiled on 2006 by Queen Elizabeth II and and accompnaied by a traditional funeral ceremony conducted by members of the Mohegan tribe.  

Memorial

Today many memorial services are be being held to mark the 10th anniversary of the bombings in  London.  Three tube trains and a bus were attacked resulting in 55 people being killed and more than 700 injured.

Among the planned tributes to be held today, wreaths will be laid at the memorial in Hyde Park, a service will take place at St Paul's  Cathedral, and a minutes silence will be held on London's transport network at 11:50. 

La Deliverance

The "Naked Lady" holding her sword high in the air, was created by French sculptor Émile Oscar Guillaume.  She was created as a celebration of the battle of Marne where the German army was stopped from capturing Paris in 1914.

Eleven copies of her were presented to cities in France and Belgium that were occupied or destroyed by the Germans.  Her nakedness caused a bit of a stir at the time so she was not readily accepted by all the communities offered her.  Our one in South Finchley gave her a couple of alternative titles: "Dirty Gertie" or "The Wicked Woman" and "The Naked Lady".

Memorial

Seeing colourful ribbons once was about a joyful occasion, seeing them now especially in a public place indicates a tragedy.  A young man lost his life here.

Angel Memorial

In a small park near Angel Islington stands an angel with this plaque:

December Theme - Looking Out

Looking out from London to the last stop on the District tube line going west is the village of Richmond.  Looking out towards the river is this memoriam to those who lost their lives - looking out for one another and their country, during the two world wars.

See other interpretations of looking out here on the CDP portal.

Buxton Memorial

Next to the houses of Parliament the lesser known Victoria Park, in the centre is the Buxton Memorial.  It was a drinking fountain, but it doesn't work anymore.  Commissioned by the Victorian MP and erected in 1835 to celebrated the emancipation of slaves in 1834.  I wonder how Charles Buxton and his father would feel about recent events in the UK where we are seeing people (especially women) kept against their will and forced to perform tasks determined by their captors.   Modern day slavery?

Agatha Christie Memorial

The queen of crime fiction has been honoured with a memorial titled "the book." 
Created by sculptor Ben Twiston-Davies, it was erected in November and sits in the heart of London's theatre land in Covent Garden.

 Agatha Christie is the world's best selling novelist selling over 2 billion books that were translated into 50 languages.
The sculpture is shaped like a book and commemorates the 60th year of her play "the mousetrap", the worlds longest running play.

Remembering Bali

A memorial to those killed in the terrorist attack at a night club in Bali 12 October 2002. The marble globe represents that those killed came from 21 countries.  The names of all 202 who died are on the curved wall behind the globe.

Memorial

Along the Thames pathway and opposite Lambeth Palace is this memorial to acknowledge the work performed the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.). This special spy group was set up by Churchill in 1940 to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis Power. (Germans, Italians and Japanese). Another brief was to instruct and aid the resistance movements. Of the 13,000 people employed by this organisation 3,200 were women.

New Zealand Memorial

Several war memorials stand in Hyde Park corner marking the relationship between Britain and those countries that supported her during the first and second world wars.

Today is New Zealand's national day. Waitangi Day, so named as on February 6th 1840 representatives of Queen Victoria and several Maori Chiefs signed a treaty that is the founding document of modern New Zealand, at Waitangi.

The memorial sculpture, a collaborative work by New Zealander Paul Dibble has iconic New Zealand folklore on each of the standards. Six of the standards sit slightly apart from the group and are arranged to represent the southern cross (star constellation). All of the standards have a cross on the top that glows at night to represent the New Zealand sky.

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park

A view from the grounds surrounding the Imperial War Museum looking out toward Elephant and Castle. The Imperial War Museum was previously a mental hospital but as far back as 1329 a hospital for the treatment of mental disorders existed here. During Victorian times 'asylum's' were moved to more rural areas. The last hospital closing in 1926. The freehold of the site was bought by Vicount Rothermere in 1930 to be made into a public space known as Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park in memory of his mother.

Tribute to the Animals

Along Park Lane this monument, a tribute to animals who died in 2oth century wars, was unveiled by Princess Anne in 2004.

Sanctuary

A memorial gate to William Avenon a goldsmith who died in 1631 now sits in the little known churchyard garden of St Katherine Cree church.