Chelsea Pensioners Monument (1901)
Erected on behalf of an admiring nation.
In November 1898, Marion Lee was taking a brisk walk through Brompton Cemetery when she found herself at the plot where London’s famous Chelsea Pensioners were laid to rest. Looking around her, the surgeon’s wife was surprised to see no memorial to the hundreds of brave men buried there.
Marion Lee
As she continued waking, Mrs Lee decided to take matters into her own hands. She went home and wrote a letter to the Editor of the Morning Post who published it the very next day:
"The piece of ground […] where so many old Chelsea Pensioners lie buried, is only marked by a few modest little headstones, placed there by their own friends. Is this quite as it ought to be?
Most of the these old Pensioners have seen active service, and have ungrudgingly given the best years of their lives to the service of their Queen and Country, retiring worn-out, weary, and disabled to spend the evening of their days in dull monotony, often bowed down and crippled by physical infirmities which are the result of the hardships and privations endured by them in the prime of their manhood." - Mrs Lee, Editor of the Morning Post
The Monument
Eventually unveiled in 1901, the monument stands ‘in tribute to the valour, endurance, sufferings and devotion of these veterans’ who fought in almost every corner of the world.
The design consists of a pink granite obelisk on a grey granite base and pedestal. The piles of cannon balls in each corner are iron. The gunmetal for the castings was provided by the War Office.
Like many Victorian memorials, the monument incorporates much symbolism. Around the base are handsome lion masks in bronze. The lion traditionally represents courage and strength, whilst also having a heraldic association with England.
At the corners of the obelisk are inverted torches. This was a popular symbol of death in the nineteenth century, because the burning flame – which would usually be extinguished if the torch was turned upside-down – symbolises eternal life.
Who are the Chelsea Pensioners?
But who were the Chelsea Pensioners, and why was it so important for them to be commemorated? Just down the road from Brompton Cemetery is the Royal Hospital Chelsea – a prestigious retirement home for veterans of the British Army.
Founded by King Charles II in 1682 and still in operation today, the 300 ex-soldiers who live here are known as Chelsea Pensioners. They are easily distinguished by their famous scarlet coats.
Chelsea Hospital
Founded by King Charles II in 1682 and still in operation today, the 300 ex-soldiers who live here are known as Chelsea Pensioners. They are easily distinguished by their famous scarlet coats.
In the nineteenth century, Chelsea Hospital’s burial ground became full, so 2,625 men were buried at Brompton Cemetery instead. Until Marion Lee wrote her letter, the graves of these veterans were largely unmarked.
The Memorial Today
Today the recently restored memorial stands proudly in Brompton Cemetery. It is surrounded by a wildflower meadow that commemorates 24 members of Royal Parks’ staff who died in the First World War.
It isn’t unusual to spot the scarlet coats of Chelsea Pensioners in amongst the graves at Brompton. Veterans from the Royal Hospital maintain a close relationship with The Royal Parks, recently visiting to help sow seeds in the wildflower meadow.
For one Chelsea Pensioner, former Regimental Sargent Major Arthur Currie, the memorial is a very special place. ‘It links the past to the present’, he says, going on to explain:
"Chelsea Pensioners are soldiers who have served and been involved in battles and wars. This monument enables us to have a place at which we can remember and respect those who died, took part or were affected by conflicts."
Final Posting Order
Arthur explains that, when a Pensioner passes away, the residents of the hospital don’t say that they’ve died. ‘We say they’ve had their final posting order’, he says.
Reading the information on the memorial, Arthur reflects:
"We say we’ve had a bad month if one pensioner receives his final posting order. That means 12 deaths in a year is a very bad year for us. Look at what the memorial says – 2,625 Pensioners were buried here between 1855 and 1893. That means more than 60 died every year!"
He concludes: ‘They memorial is a good source of information for young people to understand the sacrifices made by past generations.’
The monument is Grade II listed by Historic England, which recognises its historic significance and design.