Proposed Temporary War Shrine in Hyde Park

THE proposed erection of a temporary war-shrine in Hyde Park has called forth another of those amazing floods of letters in the daily Press which arise when any question of artistic interest attracts the momentary attention of the public. People rush into print criticising designs they have never seen and calling aloud for a committee…. The first erection came into existence in response to a dimly declared public demand. It was no great thing in itself, but was immediately found to respond to a public need. People high and low, even the very poor, came together and laid their pathetic offerings before it, their little bunches of flowers and what not in memory of often obscure heroes whose sacrificed lives were thus honoured and kept in memory. It became evident to all who took the trouble to go and see that here was a need crying out for fulfilment… Sir Edwin Lutyens gave his services and produced the design here illustrated.’ (September 21, 1918) Footnote: This memorial was never built