The International Troops War Memorial was commissioned by Leicester City Council working closely with the Leicester International Troops War Memorial committee, to acknowledge the sacrifice made by Leicester and international troops in defending this country.
The memorial is located in Peace Walk in Victoria Park, which provides an attractive year round setting for this new memorial, and is a key site for Remembrance Sunday in Leicester each year.
The memorial consists of two large granite pieces, positioned opposite each other on Peace Walk. One marks the sacrifice made by all Leicester's people and ends with the Kohima epitaph. The other acknowledges the contribution by those from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean, and ends with an extract from 'The Gift of India' written by Sarojini Naidu in 1915.
In memory of all Leicester's people
and their loved ones from Britain,
the British Commonwealth and other countries
who gave their lives for this land
in World War I, World War II
and other conflicts across the world
When you go home, tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow, we gave our today
and
In memory of all the people
from the Indian sub-continent,
Africa and the Caribbean
who died in both World Wars defending this land
And your love shall offer memorial thanks
To the comrades who fought in your dauntless ranks
And you honour the deeds of the deathless ones
Remember the blood of thy martyred sons!
From 'The Gift of India': Sarojini Naidu 1915
The memorials were officially unveiled on 29 July 2011 by The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Robert Wann and Lt Colonel Peter Roffey DL CC, President of the Royal British Legion, Leicestershire and Rutland County.
Further information on the texts and their authors is available in the attached information sheet: click the link at the bottom of this page.
For information on other war memorials in Leicester, go to our War Memorials pages.
