3-012-016 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Memorial Cross of the 8th (King's) Regiment, on the Grand Parade, Portsmouth, 1864. 'The cross, designed and constructed by Mr. Leifchild, is intended to commemorate the services and death of the 243 officers, non-commissioned officers, and private soldiers lost by the regiment while engaged in these arduous and glorious operations...[ie the victories of Ramilies, Oudenard, and Malplaquet; the relief of Lucknow; the repulse of the attack on Agra; the defeat of the Gwalior Contingent at Cawnpore; the action of the Kalee Nuddee; the capture of Delhi, and occupation of Futtehghur]. The shaft and arms of the cross are of white marble, and the buttresses to the arms of Robin Hood stone. The base is of granite, with bands of green marble, and serpentine. The relievos represent the ascension, the encampment, the battle, the burial. On the other three sides of the shaft are cut the names of the officers, non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates lost by the regiment during the [Indian] mutiny. The height of the cross is twenty feet'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.