Crimean War Memorial, Portsmouth

The Crimean War Memorial stands as a tribute to those from Portsmouth who lost their lives during the conflict with Russia from 1853 to 1856. This tall Portland limestone obelisk, set on a stepped plinth, was erected on 10 June 1857 by Portsmouth's Debating Society and supportive townsfolk, commemorating “soldiers and sailors who died of their wounds and are buried in this garrison”.

Each side of the memorial bears inscriptions naming key engagements-Sebastopol, Balaklava, Inkermann, Kertch, Alma, and Sveaborg-highlighting the pivotal battles of the Crimean War. The understated design-a wreath relief carved into the stone-evokes Victorian-era memorial aesthetics while ensuring the monument maintains a dignified simplicity.

This memorial offers a quiet moment of reflection on Portsmouth’s longstanding naval heritage. Though it lacks names of the fallen, it anchors their memory within the city’s collective history. Nearby, the Highland Road Cemetery is thought to be the resting place of many of those honoured here.