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The 'Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice' commemorates civilian lives lost in acts of heroism. While the memorial includes members of the police and fire brigade, it was essentially a memorial to everyday heroism, a concept that was increasingly championed at the time, as incidents of public bravery were more widely reported, and in contrast to the more usual Victorian concept of heroism represented though imperial and military action. The panels for the most part commemorate Victorian and early twentieth century acts of heroism, with the majority erected between 1899 and 1908, a single addition made in 1919, and a further four in 1930, with one recent addition in 2007. Sixty-two people are commemorated on 54 panels; 45 are men, nine are women and eight are children, ranging in age from eight-year-old Henry Bristow to 61–year-old Daniel Pemberton.
Title
Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice
Date
1887–1899
Medium
ceramic, brick & wood
Accession number
EC1A_CRH_S135
Acquisition method
commissioned by G F Watts
Work type
Mural
Owner
The City of London Corporation
Custodian
The City of London Corporation
Work status
extant
Listing status
Grade II* (England and Wales)
Unveiling date
30th July 1900
Listing date
05/06/72
Access
at all times
Inscription description
flanking the memorial is a modern display board with inset ceramic panels flanked by motifs in the manner of De Morgan, inscribed: G. F. WATTS’S MEMORIAL / TO HEROIC SELF SACRIFICE Unveiled in 1900, the memorial to heroic self-sacrifice was / conceived and undertaken by the Victorian artist / George Frederic Watts OM RA (1817-1904). It contains plaques to those who have heroically lost / their lives trying to save another. / Watts believed that these ‘everyday' heroes provided / models of exemplary behaviour and character. ‘The material prosperity of a nation is not an abiding / possession: the deeds of its people are’ G.F.Watts / ’Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his / life for his friends’ John 15:13