Cenotaph, The - Sightseeing, Monuments, Parks & Gardens, London Monuments

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Cenotaph, The

Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DD

Description

uilt originally to commemorate those who died in the First World War, this monument is now the focal point for the memory of those killed in both wars and since then.

Edwin Lutyens designed and completed building it in 1920. Its sides are slightly concave and convex, which represents infinity. The cenotaph is decorated only with the flags of the three military services and the Merchant Navy.

Each year on Remembrance Sunday, the nearest Sunday to 11th November (usually the second Sunday in November), the Queen, politicians and representatives of the armed forces gather here for a remembrance service, laying wreaths around the Cenotaph and observe two minutes silence. The service is televised.

Ironically a statue of field marshal Douglas Haig stands a little further along Whitehall. He was in charge at the battle of the Somme in 1916, which resulted in a terrible loss of life for no real gain. It is said his battle plan was - if more of theirs die than ours, we win!

Whitehall is a very busy road making it hard to get close to the Cenotaph. Fortunately there are now plans under consideration to pedestrianize the area.