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Dovercourt

The Dovercourt Minesweepers memorial is a classically designed limestone memorial located on the corner of Fronks Road and Lower Marine Parade. It is grade II listed and has four projecting stone elements which each have a large bronze plaque attached. In addition to the bronze plaques there are for bronze dolphin figures, one at each corner.

In 2008 the Grants for War Memorials Scheme offered a grant of £6,290 towards a project to conserve the memorial. The works were to repair damaged areas of stone to the low level areas of stonework, re-point open joints, remove the metal staining to the stone and to clean and conserve the bronze elements.

The stone repair was undertaken using the piecing-in method to ensure that the minimum amount of replacement occurred and the pointing was undertaken using an appropriate lime mortar. A poultice was applied to the areas of stone which were exhibiting metal staining. Finally the bronze was cleaned using a DOFF steam clean system before being re-patinated and having a microcrystalline wax applied.

The Dovercourt memorial was unveiled on 20th December 1919 and is dedicated to officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Auxiliary Reserve and Minesweepers. The dedication reads:

“To the Glory of God
and in proud memory
of the officers and
men of the Royal Naval
Reserve & Royal Naval
Volunteer Reserve
serving in the Auxiliary
Patrol & Minesweepers
at Harwich who died in
the performance of
their duties that the
sea might be made free

Twilight and evening bell,
and after that the dark!
and may there be no sadness of farewell.
when I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of time and place
the flood may bear me far.
I hope to see my Pilot face to face,
when I have crossed the bar.

The brother officers and men of the Harwich
Auxiliary Patrol & Minesweepers subscribed
to erect this memorial in remembrance of their
comrades who gave their lives in the service of
their King and Country during the Great War
1914-1919
erected 1919”

The other three large bronze plaques have the names of the fallen and vessels embossed onto them. For example:

“H.M.Paddle Minesweeper Mercury damaged by
enemy mine 7 June 1917”

Following this information is to be found the list of individuals and their positions.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM1593
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 22803

The National Heritage List: list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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