On Monday 26th August, a new monument was unveiled to commemorate the history of the Colchester Royal Artillery Barracks and stand 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.
Major Nick Storton, the Battery Commander of 93 Le Cateau Battery 5th Regiment Royal Artillery and Deputy Lieutenant, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Toler, unveiled the new monument at Colchester Royal Artillery Le Cateau Barracks.
The unveiling of the Colchester Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks Commemorative Monument
Also present were the High Sheriff of Essex David Hurst, the Mayor of Colchester Councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell, MP for Colchester Pam Cox, Sir Bob Russell, the High Steward of Colchester and Lt Colonel Ed Rankin Garrison Commander, representatives from the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery Association, Essex Heritage Trust, Hervey Benham Trust, GCG Environmental Trust, and many local business and individuals who helped to fund the project.
The ceremony was performed in the presence of Reverend Dr Hannah Bucke CF Chaplain to 7thParachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.
Members of the Shoeburyness Royal Artillery Association discharged a 25 pounder gun to signify the start and finish of a minute silence, during which time those attending reflected on the sacrifices made by the men of 93 Battery on 26th August 1914 at Le Cateau in Flanders.
Where to find the new monument
The monument is outside the Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester, CO2 7GZ. The monument is easily accessible to the public, even if the Centre is not open.
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The nearest public parking is the Butt Road Car Park on off Le Cateau Road.
Colchester Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks Commemorative Monument
About the new monument
The new monument commemorates the history of the Colchester Royal Artillery Barracks and also 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.
The frieze around the top commemorates the Battle of Le Cateau after which the barracks were renamed. The brick pier which supports the monument replicates the signature architecture found in the Royal Artillery Barracks.
The monument has three parts, each commemorating an important part of the Colchester Royal Artillery Barracks history.
- – Mounted on the top of the monument is a solid bronze scale model of the Royal Field Artillery Barracks as it would have looked circa 1904. It consists of all the original 1875 Royal Artillery Barracks buildings along with others built between 1875-1904 following the barracks being rerolled as a Royal Field Artillery Barracks at the turn of the century. The model also shows the Roman Circus Starting Gates which were discovered in 2004 in what was the Royal Artillery Barracks Officers’ Quarters front garden.
- – A bronze frieze mounted within a York stone plinth goes all the way round the perimeter of the base of the barracks model. The front elevation shows mounted World War I soldiers pulling their field guns and limbers leaving their barracks for France. The frieze on the right elevation shows them in France and moving up to the frontline of battle. The rear elevation depicts the Battle of Le Cateau after which the barracks were renamed after World War I. The left elevation shows them returning home, their duty done.
- – The parts of the barracks and Circus which survive today are of local and National Importance.
Project leader Paul Knapett speaks at the unveiling of the Colchester Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks Commemorative Monument
The project team was led by Paul Knappett and included Linda Green, Colin Knowles, Ian Bates and Joseph Chittenden.
You can find out more about the project and its supporters at www.colchesterrab.org
93 Le Cateau Battery is a tactical artillery unit in the British Army, consisting of artillery guns and the artillerymen and equipment required to operate them.
93 Le Cateau Battery has a long association with the Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks in Colchester. The Battery was part of the last mounted brigade to be stationed at the barracks just before outbreak of WW2.
Both the battery and the barracks have Le Cateau in their titles. This title was a military honour awarded to the barracks for the actions of the Royal Artillery at the Battle of Le Cateau and to 37 Field Battery (now 93 (Le Cateau) Battery) who, for their bravery recovering their guns, were awarded three Victoria Crosses. All of which were entitled to be known as the “Old Contemptibles”.
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