ID: STR_SOL

TitleWW1 Memorial soldiers and sailors at the Strood
AbstractTo commemorate the centenary of the end of WW1, Duncan Pittock and his team erected 51 steel soldiers and sailors at the Strood. It was a memorial that captured the imagination of many people.
The soldiers and sailors appear to be marching across the marsh towards the mainland and represent the men who lost their lives in the conflict. 9 on the east side of the road represent the 6 soldiers from East Mersea and 3 from West Mersea who would have walked down the eastern side of the village; 6 at the Peldon end those who had strong Mersea connections but did not live on the Island at the time; the remaining 36 represent those from West Mersea. They were ordered according to their dates of death.


Sunrise over East Mersea 25 August 2019
Photograph by Chrissie Westgate


Sunset over Ray Island 19 October 2019
Photograph by Chrissie Westgate

The soldiers were at the Strood for a year and the majority were taken down November 2019. An auction was held in the MICA 25 January 2020 and there was lively interest in the soldiers. Most have found homes on the island and are easy to find. There are two soldiers in the entrance to Mersea Museum, one outside West Mersea Parish Church, and one in front of MICA ...

In 2020 two new Memorial Soldiers were erected at the Strood. On the east side, the soldier is a memorial to Derek Balls from East Mersea who was killed 23 April 1951 in the Korean War [ WWK_DAB ]. On the west side is a memorial soldier in memory of Ralph Cutts-Avis - the original memorial is outside Mersea Museum. These will form the first and last in a trail of memorials being developed, covering WW1, WW2 and the Korean War.

We have a good collection of photographs of Duncan and the team taken 9th November 2018 when the statues were put in place. Work started at 8.30pm, with the real deadline of high tide at midday.
Thank you to Anne-Marie Jacobs for the photographs - she did not take a selfie on the day, so she is one member of the team missing, along with Faith Pittock who did a lot of the design work.
You can see the photographs under Related Images below.

Read More
Interview with Duncan Pittock October 2019
The Strood Soldiers by Becca Brown, from Mistral magazine 2021
Plaque from the Strood with a list of names

We are grateful to the Courier and to Mersea Life for some of the background to the project.

SourceMersea Museum
IDSTR_SOL
Related Images:
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_419
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_419
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_420
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_420
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_421
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_421
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_422
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_422
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_423
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_423
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_424
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_424
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_425
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_425
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_426
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_426
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. Duncan Pittock. AMJ_SOL_427
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_427
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. Duncan Pittock.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_428
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_428
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_429
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_429
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_434
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_434
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_435
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_435
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_436
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_436
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_438
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_438
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_439
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_439
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_440
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_440
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_441
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_441
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_442
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_442
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_444
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_444
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_445
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_445
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_446
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_446
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_447
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_447
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_448
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_448
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_449
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_449
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. Duncan Pittock. AMJ_SOL_450
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_450
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. Duncan Pittock.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The team who made it happen. AMJ_SOL_451
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_451
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The team who made it happen.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The team who made it happen. AMJ_SOL_452
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_452
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The team who made it happen.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The list of names. AMJ_SOL_453
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_453
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The list of names.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The list of names. AMJ_SOL_454
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_454
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. The list of names.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_455
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_455
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_456
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_456
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. Duncan Pittock. AMJ_SOL_459
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_459
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. Duncan Pittock.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_460
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_460
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_461
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_461
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors. AMJ_SOL_468
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_468
Title: WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 Mersea Island soldiers and sailors.
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
East Mersea men atop the old sea wall looking to the mainland. WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 ... AMJ_SOL_469
ImageID:   AMJ_SOL_469
Title: East Mersea men atop the old sea wall looking to the mainland.
WW1 Memorial at the Strood. 51 ...
Date:9 November 2018
Source:Mersea Museum / Anne-Marie Jacobs
World War 1 Memorial Soldiers and Sailors at Mersea Museum. 51 soldiers and sailors were displayed ... DIS2020_SOL_005
ImageID:   DIS2020_SOL_005
Title: World War 1 Memorial Soldiers and Sailors at Mersea Museum. 51 soldiers and sailors were displayed ...
Date:7 March 2020
Source:Mersea Museum / Tony Millatt
The plaque from the Strood describing the 51 memorial soldiers and sailors that were there for a ... DIS2020_SOL_009
ImageID:   DIS2020_SOL_009
Title: The plaque from the Strood describing the 51 memorial soldiers and sailors that were there for a ...
Date:7 March 2020
Source:Mersea Museum / Tony Millatt
Poignant war tribute Tommy statues set to be auctioned for charity </p><p> Interview with ... IA01_927
ImageID:   IA01_927
Title: "Poignant war tribute Tommy statues set to be auctioned for charity"

Interview with ...

Date:October 2019
Source:Mersea Museum