The Temple of Peace was erected in 1924 by Richard Ramo as a memorial to his four sons, three of whom had died in the First World War [1914-18]. Victor Ramo died at Messiness, his brother Henry died of wounds in Belgium, and the youngest son, Gordon, was killed at Gallipoli. An adopted son, Fred, was killed in an accident in 1923. Such was Richard Ramo's grief at these losses that he designed and built the temple as the last resting place of Fred's body and the ashes of two of his soldier sons. The body of Ramo's dog, which had been poisoned, also was interred in the memorial. The temple was more than just a personal memorial, it was an expression of revulsion of war, containing many pacifist and anti-war inscriptions. The dedication ceremony on 6 December 1924 was attended by several thousand people, including many socialists and pacifists. The band played ‘The Red Flag' as the coffin was placed in the memorial. In 2006 the temple was badly damaged by vandals. It is now boarded up and cannot be viewed.
The Temple of Peace was erected in 1924 by Richard Ramo as a memorial to his four sons, three of whom had died in the First World War [1914-18]. Victor Ramo died at Messiness, his brother Henry died of wounds in Belgium, and the youngest son, Gordon, was killed at Gallipoli. An adopted son, Fred, was killed in an accident in 1923. Such was Richard Ramo's grief at these losses that he designed and built the temple as the last resting place of Fred's body and the ashes of two of his soldier sons. The body of Ramo's dog, which had been poisoned, also was interred in the memorial. The temple was more than just a personal memorial, it was an expression of revulsion of war, containing many pacifist and anti-war inscriptions. The dedication ceremony on 6 December 1924 was attended by several thousand people, including many socialists and pacifists. The band played ‘The Red Flag' as the coffin was placed in the memorial. In 2006 the temple was badly damaged by vandals. It is now boarded up and cannot be viewed.
Advertisement
Advertisement
