Cambridge War Memorial

Cambridge War Memorial in Cambridge stands on Hills Road, right outside the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden. A bronze statue of a marching soldier, set on a heavily carved limestone plinth, forms the centrepiece. The work is titled "The Homecoming", and is sometimes called "Coming Home".

Who made it and what does it show?

The sculptor was the Canadian artist Robert Tait McKenzie; George Hubbard designed the architectural base. The soldier strides toward the town but turns his head to look back at the railway station. The pose reads as a return from the front, with the war still pulling at his attention. The monument honours the men of Cambridgeshire who served in the First World War.

How old is it, and is it protected?

The memorial was unveiled in 1922. Most sources say the Duke of York, later King George VI, performed the ceremony while in Cambridge for an agricultural show. It first stood at the junction of Hills Road and Station Road, on the route from the station into the centre. A plan to place it on Parker's Piece was turned down back in 1919. Since 1996 it has been a Grade II listed structure (Historic England list entry 1268368).

How do you get there?

Hills Road lies roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk from Cambridge railway station, heading toward the city centre. The route follows a wide street lined with Victorian houses and the walk is flat. The Botanic Garden is next door, so the two are easy to combine. There are no tickets and no opening hours.

What will you see?

• the bronze soldier in full kit, mid-stride;
• the carved limestone plinth beneath him;
• inscriptions commemorating the fallen;
• the greenery of the Botanic Garden behind.

Walk a full circle around the statue. From the side you can see that the figure faces the direction of the station instead of the centre.

When should you visit?

The memorial stands in the open, so you can see it at any season or time of day. Morning and late-afternoon light suit photography. The site is most solemn around Remembrance Sunday in November, when poppy wreaths are laid at memorials across Britain.

Frequently asked questions

Who sculpted the Cambridge war memorial?

Canadian sculptor Robert Tait McKenzie made the bronze figure. George Hubbard was the architect of the plinth.

Is there an entrance fee?

No. The memorial stands beside a public road and is free to view at any time.

Is the memorial a listed monument?

Yes. It has been on the National Heritage List for England at Grade II since 1996.

Why does the soldier look toward the station?

The statue shows a soldier returning to the town and glancing back at the station he arrived through, which explains the title "The Homecoming".