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This book examines a diverse set of civic war memorials in North East England commemorating three clusters of conflicts: the Crimean War and Indian Rebellion in the 1850s; the 'small wars' of the 1880s; and the Boer War from 1899 to 1902. Encompassing a protracted timeframe and embracing disparate social, political and cultural contexts, it analyses how and why war memorials and commemorative practices changed during this key period of social transition and imperial expansion. In assessing the motivations of the memorial organisers and the narratives they sought to convey, the author argues that developments in war commemoration were primarily influenced by - and reflected - broader socio-economic and political transformations occurring in nineteenth-century and early-twentieth century Britain.
List of contents
1. Introduction.- 2. Uncertain Memorials: The Crimean War Cannon, 1857-1861.- 3. Reinforcing the Moral Code: The Memorial to General Havelock in Sunderland.- 4. Small Wars, Big Box Office, Little Impact? Colonial Conflicts between 1878-1885.- 5. The Boer War and 'An Epidemic of War Memorials': Commemorating War in the Twentieth Century.- 6. Conclusion.
About the author
Guy Hinton completed his PhD at Newcastle University, where he also taught British history and concepts of historiographical research. He has written on popular reactions to the Boer War and spoken at numerous academic conferences and to the wider community. Before returning to academia, Guy worked for fifteen years in the cultural sector.
Report
"Hinton reveals in this fascinating account of civic remembrance of nineteenth century conflict in the north east of England, there is a richer field of enquiry at another level ... . The significance of this work is in exposing the local decisions that were made to create these sites and their place as civic markers. As such, these are places that are always subject to what we regard as a society and a reflection of the state of our democracy." (Ross Wilson, Northern History, Vol. 59 (2), 2022)
