?Scarborough War Memorial

The following is an account of the establishment of a War Memorial after the First World War. They are taken from Paul Allens book "Neath a foreign sky."

Following its unveiling, the Oliver?s Mount Memorial had officially been handed over to Scarborough?s Mayor for safe keeping by ex Councillor Christopher Colbourne Graham. In his speech the town?s much loved and well-respected former Mayor had said?

?I have the honour to make over this memorial to you Mr. Mayor, as representative of the Corporation of Scarborough. Henceforth, this memorial is the property of the Corporation in trust for the people of Scarborough. We must all regard the occasion today as an important and solemn one. Some of us regard this memorial as a Cenotaph, and it may be some solace and some satisfaction to know that there is recorded thereon the name of one whose memory is dear to us. But this can only be a passing phase. There is a bigger meaning beyond it. Mercifully time softens sorrow, and even to us who remain, time helps to bear our loss, and in a few short years there will be no sense of personal loss or grief attached to this memorial. But it will stand as it does today, as a reminder of service devoted and faithful until death, and we hope an incentive to us, and those who follow us, to look to the example, the splendid example, of those men and women whose names are here recorded. Their memory will live; their deeds will be regarded as amongst the chief deeds in our history. In the words engraved above us.

?They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the, and in the morning,
We shall remember them??

Scarborough?s Mayor, Councillor Whitfield had then made a short speech of acceptance on behalf of the town before buglers belonging to the 5TH Green Howards had sounded ?The Last Post?, and ?Reveille?. A wreath had then been laid at the foot of the memorial on behalf of the Inhabitants, whilst representatives of the three services had also laid wreaths to their fallen comrades.