Monument MPM460 - CHESAPEAKE MONUMENT

Monument. 1862. By TJ Willis and SJ Nichol. Granite, stone and bronze. Polished granite column set on square sandstone base and corniced pedestal, foliated stone capital surmounted by bronze tripod and naval crown. Base of column has bronze relief, scroll band and dolphin heads at corner. Monument commemorates "Their comrades who fell in battle or died from disease and accident during an eventful commission (of HMS Chesapeake of 4 years [1857-61])". It bears several inscriptions; a list of those killed and those who died of wounds at the attack on the Taku Fort, China, June 25th 1859; the members of the crew and marines who died during the commission; a bronze relief showing seamen and marines landing to assault the Taku forts, and place names Peiho, Peking, Jeddah and Calcutta and India 1857-58, Arabia 1859-59, and China 1859-60-61. (Berridge DW: Monuments and Memorials in the City of Portsmouth: 1984-: 5).