Saint Andrew's College Grahamstown Great War Memorial Tower

South African Military History Society

Photo: Pat Irwin

Location
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
On Saint Andrew's College Campus, corner of Worcester and Somerset Streets

GPS: 33 deg 18 min 25.62 sec S, 26 deg 31 min 7.34 sec E

Photo: Pat Irwin

Significance
The Memorial Tower was built in memory Old Andreans fallen in the Great War and is dedicated on the Eastern face:

MCMXIV   MCMXVIII 
+ MEMENTOTE + 
HVIVS COLLEGII ALVMNORVM 
QVI OB TERRAM MARIM AERIM 
FORTITER ET PATIENTER MILITANTES 
LIBERTATEM NOBIS SVB PACEM 
MORIENTES CONSERVARVNT

The English translation of the inscription is

1914     1918 
+ REMEMBER + 
THE ALUMNI OF THIS COLLEGE 
WHO, BY LAND, SEA, AND AIR
FIGHTING BRAVELY AND STEADFASTLY
SECURED FOR US, BY THEIR DYING 
FREEDOM UNDER PEACE

Photo: Malcolm Kinghorn

The Foundation Stone on the Western pillar is inscribed:

ADGM
THIS STONE WAS LAID BY
VICE ADMIRAL 
SIR WILLIAM E
GOODENOUGH 
KCB MVO 29th NOV 1921

Photo: Malcolm Kinghorn

Rolls of Honour are inscribed on panels on the inside of the pillars of the Memorial.

Photo: Pat Irwin

Photo: Pat Irwin

The Roll of Honour on the Northern pillar includes Major PNG Fitzpatrick, South African Heavy Artillery, the eldest son of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick.

Further reading
The Life and Death of Major Percy Nugent Fitzpatrick (1889-1917) by Ross Dix-Peek

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org