Monument MPM1724 - Civilians Memorial (west side), Kingston Cemetery

Memorial commemorating those civilians who lost their lives during Second World War bombing raids and who are buried in a mass grave in Kingston Cemetery.

Memorial commemorating 136 civilians who lost their lives during Second World War bombing raids and who are buried in one of two mass graves in Kingston Cemetery (a second mass grave is located on the east side of the cemetery see MPM1725). [1]

The memorial consists of a free standing rectangular limestone 'wall' containing four plaques which list the names of 133 people who died. The bronze plaques had to be replaced with slate in 2011 after the originals were stolen. [2]

The main inscription on the memorial reads 'Erected to the memory of those men, women and children both known and unknown who died as a result of enemy bombing on this city and whose last resting place is near this spot'. 'OUT OF THE DEPTHS OF SORROW AND SACRIFICE WILL BE BORN AGAIN THE GLORY OF MANKIND.'

The Ministry of Health awarded Portsmouth Corporation £1,304 towards the erection of both memorials in 1951. [3]

<1> Howarth, A J, Norrish, K V, 1984, Monuments & Memorials in the City of Portsmouth (Unpublished document). SPM509.

<2> Backhouse, Tim, 2002-17, Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth (Bibliographic reference). SPM259.

<3> Portsmouth Evening News, 1951, Portsmouth Evening News (Bibliographic reference). SPM370.