New Initiatives in Genocide Studies and Prevention
Memorials and Commemorative Ceremonies for Victims of Genocide throughout the World
GPN Genocide Prevention Now plans to develop an ongoing worldwide directory to memorials for victims of genocide. We will also present to our readers in future issues a regular report on how individual groups commemorate their victims, including the content of various ceremonies.
Memorials to victims of genocide are built throughout the world and often are not limited to the place where the genocide occurred. Unless otherwise noted, the descriptions of memorials are taken from the descriptions given by the staff of the Memorial being described.
We are interested in receiving information about additional memorials to victims of genocide that do not appear at this time in our initial list. Our aim is to build a comprehensive directory of memorials that reflect the different ways of commemorating and remembering specific genocides by victim groups.
All submissions should be sent to: Marc I. Sherman, Director, Holocaust and Genocide Review, GPN Genocide Prevention Now. E-mail: msherman.gpn@genocidepreventionnow.org.
In Issue 4, we are proud to profile:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tablets_on_the_Memorial_to Heroic_Self_Sacrifice
The memorial consists of a collection of ceramic tablets, each of which tell to story of someone (sometimes more than one person) who died as a result of trying to save another. This memorial offers poignant reminders that heroism and bravery do not just occur in times of war, but also in everyday life.
History
The Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice is a public monument in Postman's Park in the City of London, commemorating ordinary people who died saving the lives of others and might otherwise have been forgotten. It was first proposed by painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts in 1887, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The scheme was not accepted at that time, and in 1898 Watts was approached by Henry Gamble, vicar of St Botolph's Aldersgate church. Postman's Park was built on the church's former churchyard, Gamble felt that Watts's proposed memorial would raise the profile of the park. The memorial was unveiled in an unfinished state in 1900, consisting of a 50-foot (15m) wooden loggia designed by Ernest George, sheltering a wall with space for 120 ceramic memorial tiles to be designed and made by William De Morgan. At the time of opening, only four of the memorial tiles were in place. Watts died in 1904, and his widow Mary Watts took over the running of the project.
In 1906, after making 24 memorial tablets for the project, William De Morgan abandoned the ceramics business to become a novelist, and the only ceramics firm able to manufacture appropriate further tiles was Royal Doulton. Dissatisfied with Royal Doulton's designs, and preoccupied with the management of the Watts Gallery and Watts Mortuary Chapel in Compton, Surrey, Mary Watts lost interest in the project. Work to complete it was sporadic and ceased altogether in 1931 with only 53 of the planned 120 tiles in place. In 2009, the Diocese of London consented to further additions to the memorial, and the first new tablet was added to the memorial for 78 years.
Although this memorial does not commemorate a genocide, it nevertheless shows the values and sacrifices of people towards saving human live. An often quoted verse from the Talmud states that, ”Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.” The Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice exemplifies this statement.
Click here for full listing of Memorials
