This Grade II listed memorial was designed, under Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob's supervision, by a young Indian architect, E. C. Henriques. Many Indian soldiers were brought to Brighton for nursing care after having been wounded in World War I. Some did not recover, and provision was made for the Hindus and Sikhs amongst them to be cremated according to their own religious rites at this beautiful spot on the South Downs.
Left: Closer view of the Chattri. Right: Part of the inscription
The octagonal, domed chattri is of white Sicilian marble, with a darker stone base, and is pleasantly landscaped. The inscription is both in Hindi and English, the English part reading: 'TO THE MEMORY OF ALL THE INDIAN SOLDIERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR KING-EMPEROR THIS MONUMENT ERECTED IN THE SITE WHERE THE HINDUS AND SIKHS WHO DIED IN HOSPITAL IN BRIGHTON PASSED THROUGH FIRE, IS IN GRATEFUL ADMIRATION AND BROTHERLY AFFECTION DEDICATED." It was inaugurated in a moving ceremony by the then Prince of Wales early in 1921, and stands on the Downs just north of Brighton, close to Patcham, Sussex.
Photographs, captions and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL or cite the Victorian Web in a print document.
Sources
"The Chattri: List Entry Summary." Historic England. Web. 13 November 2016.
"The Prince's Visit To Brighton." The Times 1 February 1921: 8. Times Digital Archive. Web. 13 November 2016.
Last modified 19 April 2019