Old Boys of Birkenhead Institute (Futility Statue)

Wilfred Owen Birkenhead Old Boys Memorial - Taken by John Morrison 14 Nov 2019

Report this image
Wilfred Owen Poem - Futility - Taken by John Morrison 14 Nov 2019

Report this image
Futility Plinth Plaque - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Original Foundation Stone to pavilion - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Arch and Screen (without bayonet) - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Plinth Information Plaque - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Arch and Screen (with bayonet) Lit at Night - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Plinth Red-dedication Plaque - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Mood Lit Statue and Screen - Taken by David Kelly 09 Dec 2020

Report this image
Futillity, Sculpture by Jim Whelan - Taken by Brian A Browne 16 Sep 2022

Report this image
Futillity, Sculpture by Jim Whelan - Taken by Brian A Browne 16 Sep 2022

Report this image

Submit a new image

Reference WMO/264607

Address:

Hamilton Square/Duncan Street

Birkenhead

CH41 5ER

England

Open large map

Edit memorial name, location & address

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace

Description: Serviceman/woman sculpture

Materials:

Metal Bronze
Stone Stone (any)

Lettering: Raised

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: This is a new, ‘Re-Memorial’ commissioned by Old Boys of Birkenhead Institute to replace that lost when their former playing fields at Ingleborough Road, Tranmere (WMO/108342) were redeveloped for housing. Old Boys led a campaign to prevent the loss of the playing fields which were dedicated to those of their number who fell in WW1 which was unsuccessful, but not before they were promised the resources needed to replace that which was lost. The full memorial is highly symbolic. The first phase consisted of a statue based upon a pen and ink drawing by the School’s popular former Art Master, D.S.W. Jones illustrating the cover of a book produced in the 1960’s about Wilfred Owen, who spent his formative educational years at the Institute. It depicts an, ‘Universal’ soldier, exhausted but not beaten by the challenge he has just faced. It is colloquially known as, “Futility” after the Wilfred Owen poem of the same name. He sits on a stone and brick plinth using materials reclaimed from the pavilion that was built in 1926 on the playing fields and was provided through donations by friends and family of the 88 Old Boys who died. The statue inspired by the above illustration was created by local artist Jim Whelan for Castle Fine Arts Foundry. The second and final phase, completed in time for Remembrance Day 2020, reimagines the decorative archway that stood over the entrance to the Ingleborough Road Memorial Playing Fields, erected in 1932 and includes a lazer cut stainless steel screen depicting a Flanders landscape to recall the 88 poplar trees that were planted around the perimeter of the fields at the same time, one for each of the Old Boys who did not return. Additional side railings depict images by another Institute Old Boy, David Hillhouse who created the Wilfred Owen Window at Birkenhead Central Library, where the School’s Brass Roll of Honour is now situated. The new memorial lists five names not commemorated on that Roll and another Old Boy who suffered the effects of the War in a tragic fashion. Located within sight of the Birkenhead Cenotaph, the main location for Civic remembrance, it is intended that that their sacrifice will now speak in a new way, appropriate for current times, not just for the school but also for the wider Wirral community who equally gave so much to ensure the freedom of Western civilisation. The Memorial is lit at nightime with changeable mood lighting.

Edit memorial details

Report a concern with this memorial

Report a duplicate memorial record

Report an inappropriate record

Submit a condition update

Report this condition update

View more details

Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

pre-application

As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.

donate here

Submit a new comment

Comments:

This is a new, ‘Re-Memorial’ commissioned by Old Boys of Birkenhead Institute to replace that lost when their former playing fields at Ingleborough Road, Tranmere (WMO/108342) were redeveloped for housing. Old Boys led a campaign to prevent the loss of the playing fields which were dedicated to those of their number who fell in WW1 which was unsuccessful, but not before they were promised the resources needed to replace that which was lost.
The full memorial is highly symbolic. The first phase consisted of a statue based upon a pen and ink drawing by the School’s popular former Art Master, D.S.W. Jones illustrating the cover of a book produced in the 1960’s about Wilfred Owen, who spent his formative educational years at the Institute. It depicts an, ‘Universal’ soldier, exhausted but not beaten by the challenge he has just faced. It is colloquially known as, “Futility” after the Wilfred Owen poem of the same name. He sits on a stone and brick plinth using materials reclaimed from the pavilion that was built in 1926 on the playing fields and was provided through donations by friends and family of the 88 Old Boys who died. The statue inspired by the above illustration was created by local artist Jim Whelan for Castle Fine Arts Foundry  and was unveiled to the public by The Right Hon. Frank Field M.P. on the 100th anniversary of the death of Wilfred Owen in 2018 and rededicated to the Fallen in 2019 by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The second and final phase, completed in time for Remembrance Day 2020, reimagines the decorative archway that stood over the entrance to the Ingleborough Road Memorial Playing Fields, erected in 1932 and includes a lazer cut stainless steel screen depicting a Flanders landscape to recall the 88 poplar trees that were planted around the perimeter of the fields at the same time, one for each of the Old Boys who did not return. Additional side railings depict images by another Institute Old Boy, David Hillhouse who created the Wilfred Owen Window at Birkenhead Central Library, where the School’s Brass Roll of Honour is now situated. The new memorial lists five names not commemorated on that Roll and another Old Boy who suffered the effects of the War in a tragic fashion.
Located within sight of the Birkenhead Cenotaph, the main location for Civic remembrance, it is intended that that their sacrifice will now speak in a new way, appropriate for current times, not just for the school but also for the wider Wirral community who equally gave so much to ensure the freedom of Western civilisation. The Memorial is lit at night time with changeable mood lighting.

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Submit a new link

Report this link

Edit information

Inscription:

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC/ Birkenhead Instute 899 - 1907/ FUTILITY by Wilfrid Owen/ Move him into the sun -/ Greatly its touch awake him once,/ At home, whispering of fields half-sown,/ Always it woke him, even in France,/ Until this morning and this snow,/ If anything might rouse him now/ The kind old sun will know./ Think how it wakes the seeds -/ Woke once the clays of a cold star./ Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides/ Full-nerved, still warm, too hard to stir?/ Was it for this the clay grew tall?/ - O what made fatuous sunbeams toil/ To break earth's sleep at all?

Suggest information

Listing grade:

Not eligible for listing

Listing URL:

Information Required

Unique listing reference number:

Information Required

Conservation area:

Information Required

Local list / Historic environment record:

Information Required

Claim Custodianship

Custodian name:

Information Required

Custodian website:

Information Required