Punch,  41 (1861), 40–41.

The Guards' Monument, As It Is, and As It Should Be

Anon

Genre:

Illustration; News-Commentary

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Nationalism, War, Heroism, Disease, Government, Politics


    Opens with an illustration representing a monument to the Crimean soldiers designed by Bell (possibly Jonathan A Bell). The text begins by blaming Britannia's apparent ingratitude on the 'contractors she employs', and accordingly seeks to blame a committee rather than Bell for the 'failure' of the design of the Guards' Memorial in Waterloo Place. Attacks the inscription on the monument on the grounds that it suggests that British soldiers died 'at the hands' of the Russians. Appealing to the 'official returns' of the battles, points out that fever, dysentery, and cholera, were the principal causes of death and, under the guidance of 'General Mismanagement, and General Routine', caused havoc in the British military camp at Scutari. Condemning the monument as a 'mistake', suggests that this construction, on whose apex stands a statue of Florence Nightingale, should be inscribed with the names of the diseases that killed these British troops. (40)



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