Cenotaph

A cenotaph is a tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek words kenos, "empty" and taphos, "tomb".

The Cenotaph, London

Probably the best-known cenotaph in the modern world is the one that stands in Whitehall, London. It was constructed from Portland stone between 1919-1920 by Sir Edwin Lutyens to replace an identical plaster cenotaph erected in 1919 for the Allied Victory Parade. It is undecorated save for a carved wreath on each end and the words "The Glorious Dead". It is flanked on each side by the various flags of the United Kingdom, representing the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force and the Merchant Navy. The Cenotaph is the site of the annual national service of remembrance held at 11 a.m. on the closest Sunday to the 11th November (Armistice Day). Uniformed service personnel always salute the Cenotaph as they pass - it was, for example, very noticeably the only salute made by the Royal Horse Artillery driver of Diana, Princess of Wales's funeral carriage during the procession (on this occasion he did not even salute the Queen).

Related Topics:
Whitehall - London - Portland stone - 1919 - 1920 - Edwin Lutyens - United Kingdom - Royal Navy - British Army - Royal Air Force - Merchant Navy - Armistice Day - Salute - Royal Horse Artillery - Diana, Princess of Wales - Queen

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