Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks Commemorative Monument

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Reference WMO/303270

Address:

Roman Circus Walk

Colchester

CO2 7GZ

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Roadside
Description: Pillar/column
Materials:
  • Metal Bronze
Lettering: Raised
Conflicts:
  • First World War (1914-1918)
  • 20th Century Wars
About the memorial: The Monument This monument commemorates the history of the Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks and stands as a tribute to the men of the Royal Artillery who left here to serve their country in many conflicts overseas. Sadly not all returned. Mounted on the top of the monument is a bronze scale model showing how the Barracks would have looked preceding the Great War. It consists of all the original 1874/75 Royal Artillery Barracks buildings along with others built between 1875 and around 1904. This followed the Barracks being rerolled as a much larger Royal Field Artillery Barracks at the turn of the century, following a major reorganisation of the Royal Artillery in 1899. The model also shows the archaeologically important Colchester Roman Circus starting gates, discovered in 2004 in what was the front garden of the Officers’ Quarters. A bronze frieze in relief runs around the base of the model of the Barracks. The front elevation shows XIV (14) Brigade Royal Field Artillery leaving here for France at the outbreak of the Great War. The frieze on the right elevation shows the Brigade in France bringing its field guns up to the frontline of battle. The rear elevation depicts the Battle of Le Cateau after which the Barracks were renamed. The left elevation shows the Brigade returning home to Colchester, its duty done. The brick pier on which the monument is mounted replicates the signature architecture found in the Royal Artillery Barracks buildings. It is likely that the style signified the importance of the Royal Artillery, or British worldwide interests during that period. The parts of the barracks that survive today are of both local and national importance. Many of the buildings are Grade II Listed because of their historic architectural design. The starting gates are an important part of the only Roman Circus to be discovered in the United Kingdom and are thus part of a Scheduled Monument.
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This monument commemorates the Colchester Royal Artillery Barracks and stands as a tribute to those who left these barracks to serve their country in many conflicts, not all returned. The scale model represents the Royal Artillery Barracks, originally built in 1874-75 with further additions around 1904 when it became a Royal Field Artillery Barracks. It also includes the Roman starting gates discovered in 2004 which formed a key element of the Roman Circus. The parts of the barracks and circus still present today are of local and national importance. The frieze around the top depicts the departure of XIV Brigade Royal Field Artillery for France in World War I and the ensuing Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914, after which the barracks were renamed Le Cateau Barracks.

Reference is only made to the actions of XIV Brigade Royal Field Artillery, no individuals

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