Louis Frederick Roslyn

Louis Frederick Roslyn
Darwen War Memorial, Bold Venture Park, Darwen, unveiled 1921.
Born	Louis Frederick Roselieb (1878-07-13)13 July 1878 London, England
Died	1934
Nationality	English of German extraction
Education	, Royal Academy Schools
Known for	Sculpture

Louis Frederick Roslyn, born Louis Frederick Roselieb, also known as Louis Fritz Roselieb (13 July 1878 – 1940), was a British sculptor noted for his World War I war memorials and other sculptures. Before beginning his career, he studied at Westminster City & Guilds College and the Royal Academy. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, but for medical or other reasons was put on the reserve until 1917 when he was called to the School of Military Aeronautics and subsequently made Lieutenant. It seems to be during his military service that he finally changed his name to Roslyn.

Personal life[]

Louis Frederick Roselieb, later Roslyn, was born on 13 July 1878 in Lambeth, London^[1] the son of George Louis Roselieb, a German sculptor who came to England from Germany to work.^{[nb 1]}

Louis Roselieb attended Westminster City & Guilds College before joining the Royal Academy, where in 1905 he was awarded a two year Landseer Scholarship for sculpture. Once he started to practice, his studio was located at "The Studio" in Clapham, London.^[1]

From 1906 to 1916 Roslyn worked at The Standard Plating Works in Rosebury Avenue. He was a "Sculptor and Electra Metallurgist".^[2] He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 under the name of Louis Fritz Roselieb.^[2] At the time of his enlistment he was 38 years and 5 months old and his height was 5 feet 6.1/2 inches. His wife was Ethel Roselieb and they had three children, Claude Frederick (12 years), Edward George (9 years) and John Bleckly (3 1/2 years).^[2]

At some point during his military service Roselieb changed his surname to Roslyn. It is not entirely clear when this decision was made; the statue of Edward VII had been done under the name Roselieb in 1911, whereas his work on the Imperial Buildings in 1914 was signed Roslyn.^[3]

Roslyn executed sculptural work for many war memorials in England and Wales. He also executed a war memorial in Trinidad, West Indies. The Duchess of York and Duchess of Connaught were among those of whom he was commissioned to do portrait busts.^[4] He was a Member and then Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. His membership commenced 1914 and his Fellowship commenced in 1923.^[1]

Military service[]

The young Roselieb, who often added "Vai" to his full name, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 12 December 1915 and he described himself when enlisting as "a sculptor and living in Clapham" and to be working as "a sculptor and electra metallurgist".^[2] Rosyln was passed as fit to work on "electro deposition of various metals for use in connection with Aero Engines” and was deemed medically "fit for service anywhere but not combatant service".^[2] In his records, and with no explanation, it was stated that Lord Derby did not want Roslyn called up before 1 June 1917.^[2]

Having enlisted, Roselieb was put on the reserve, and in June 1917 was called to the School of Military Aeronautics, Royal Flying Corps, Reading, as an Equipment Officer, 3rd Class on probation. As a result of this appointment Roselieb was gazetted as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant under the name Louis Frederick Roslyn. Subsequently he was promoted to Lieutenant.^[2][5]

Works prior to 1914[]

Images for Roslyn's Edward VII Statue, Imperial Building sculpture and Aspatria Fountain[]

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  Edward VII statue relief

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  Another Edward VII statue relief

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  Roslyn's work over Imperial Building's entrance.

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  Memorial at Aspatria. Photograph courtesy "jmc4".

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  "Peace" on Aspatria Memorial. Photograph courtesy "jmc4". Note similarity to the Tooting work.

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  Plaque concerning Sir Wilfred Lawson. Photograph courtesy "jmc4"

War memorials[]

Work	Image	Location	Notes and References
Basingstoke War Memorial		Basingstoke, Hampshire	Roslyn carried out the sculptural work for this memorial.[18]
Bexhill War Memorial		Bexhill, East Sussex	On the Bexhill promenade in East Sussex, Roslyn's winged “Victory” figure is placed in front of an obelisk. The memorial was unveiled on 12 December 1920 by Brigadier General H O’Donnell.[19] Photograph shown courtesy Justin Bailey.
Blackley War Memorial		Blackley, Manchester	Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on Blackley's War Memorial. The memorial features a winged “Victory” bronze surmounting a tall pedestal. The whole work stands on a broad stone base with pillars at the four corners on which are four smaller figures holding emblems which represent the Army, Navy, Air Force and Nursing Services. Sadly these figures are now missing. The pillars are linked by chain link railings which enclose the area. The memorial was unveiled on 28 May 1921.[20]
Buxton		Buxton, Derbyshire	On Buxton's memorial, Roslyn again features a bronze figure representing “Victory”. The memorial was unveiled on 18 September 1920 by Lieut General Sir Ivor Maxse.[21] Photograph courtesy "melodysparks"
Calverley War Memorial		Calverley, West Yorkshire	In Victoria Park, Calverley, on the Carr Road, Roslyn's memorial has a bronze “Victory” figure and was unveiled on 28 May 1922. Photograph shown courtesy "Rubber rat productions"[22] See note on Greengates.
Clitheroe War Memorial		Clitheroe, Lancashire	The Clitheroe memorial, which stands in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle in Lancashire, features a bronze soldier standing in mourning pose his head bowed and fire-arm reversed.[23] Image courtesy "Jaxpix 50".
Darwen War Memorial		Darwen, Lancashire	The Darwen memorial again features the “Victory” bronze and also has bronze relief panels set into the sides of the pedestal. Unveiled on 27 September 1921 by a Mrs.Chadwick. The photograph shown is one of the Darwen reliefs and features a nurse.[24]
Denholme War Memorial		Denholme, West Yorkshire	Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on this War Memorial which was unveiled on 11 November 1922 by Colonel Sugden.[25] The Memorial involves a bronze featuring a serviceman standing head bowed and with arms reversed.
Edmonton War Memorial		Edmonton, North London	Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on this War Memorial. It was unveiled by Air Vice Marshall Sir Philip Game on 26 October 1924.[26]
Greengates War Memorial		Greengates, West Yorkshire	At Greengates and in the Garden of Remembrance on the Harrogate Road, we have a winged bronze “Victory" figure unveiled on 5 November 1921 by Lt.Col Alderman Anthony Gadie. The memorial is dedicated to the men of both Greengates and Apperley Bridge who fell in the First World war. "FREEDOM" "HONOUR" "JUSTICE" AND "PEACE" are carved at the top of the column. Photograph courtesy "Speccy beardy".[27] At the time of the unveiling, the figure was described as representing “peace gained through sacrifice”. Roslyn worked on the overall design with a local retired architect, E. Wright. This is one of three similar compositions in the area, the others being in the park at Calverley, a few miles away over the municipal boundary in Leeds, and at Wetherby, where the memorial sits on the bridge. Each of the figures has details which make reference to classical depictions of Athene in her role as the "bringer of victory". In 2003, the Greengates memorial was threatened by a road-widening scheme and a local resident approached Sir Donald Thompson for advice. The Trust’s Conservation Officer, in collaboration with a Regional Volunteer, made a successful application for the memorial to be listed and as a result all three of Roslyn’s "Yorkshire ladies" are now listed Grade II.[28]
Haslingden War Memorial		Haslingden, Lancashire	At Haslingdean in Lancashire, Roslyn's composition reverts to a soldier standing over a wounded comrade. The photograph is of a plaque which stands next to the memorial.[29]
Holyhead War Memorial		Holyhead, Anglesey	The memorial in Victoria Square, Holyhead on Anglesey, takes the form of a Cenotaph and features a bronze relief of a soldier and another of a sailor. Unveiled 15 September 1923 by Sir R.H.Williams-Bulkeley.[30]
Ipswich Oddfellows Memorial Plaque		Ipswich, Suffolk	Roslyn also worked on a bronze memorial plaque to the 254 men of the Oddfellows district of Ipswich who died in the First World War but this has disappeared.[31]
Kenfig Hill and Pyle War Memorial		Kenfig, Mid Glamorgan Wales	Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on this War Memorial.[32] It was unveiled in November 1925 by Major-General Sir Thomas O Marden. Roslyn features a bronze figure of "Victory" in his composition. One raised hand holds a wreath and the other a baton.
Little Common War Memorial		, Sussex	At Little Common in East Sussex, Roslyn executed a simple granite memorial unveiled on 21 November 1920 by Major General Sir John Longley.[33]
Maesteg War memorial		Maesteg, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales	Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on the Maesteg War Memorial which was unveiled on 11 November 1926 by Major-General Sir Thomas O Marden. A soldier stands “on guard” over a wounded comrade.[34]
Oswaldtwistle War Memorial		Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire	At Oswaldtwistle, Roslyn combines the bronze “Victory” figure with a soldier defending a wounded comrade and also has bronze figures seated on the prow of ships which project from the pedestal. These two figures represent the Royal Navy and the RAF. Unveiled on 14 January 1922 by Major General H Shoubridge. Here we see a photograph of the Oswaldtwistle work. A soldier stands protectively over a wounded colleague.[35]
Port Talbot War Memorial		Port Talbot	The memorial at Port Talbot has a “Victory” bronze figure at the top and bronze relief panels on three sides. In one relief Roslyn features a male figure holding a wreath and sword, in another a female figure features with child and lamb and in the third a draped female figure holds a palm and lamp and a further frieze depicts marching soldiers carrying wounded comrades past battlefield crosses. The Port Talbot memorial was unveiled on 4 July 1925 by Field Marshal Sir William R Robertson. Photograph courtesy "C J Mellows".[36]
Portstewart War Memorial		Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland	Roslyn features a soldier in service dress with rifle raised.[37] Photograph shown courtesy "hondarider 13".
Rawtenstall War Memorial		Rawtenstall, Lancashire	Roslyn executed the sculptural work on this memorial in St Marys Church Memorial Gardens, St Marys Way, Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The memorial consists of an obelisk at the foot of which are mounted four high relief panels. One features a soldier, a farm labourer, a woman and child and a wren, another an airman, two nurses, a labourer, and a servicewoman , another a medical orderly, miner, sailor and an officer and the final panel features coal miners, and railwaymen. A Miss Carrie Whitehead unveiled the memorial on 29 June 1929. A montage of photographs of the Rawtenstall War Memorial is shown on the left.[38]
Slaidburn War Memorial		Slaidburn, Lancashire	Like the one at nearby Clitheroe Castle, the Slaidburn memorial (Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, now Lancashire), features a bronze soldier standing in mourning pose his head bowed and fire-arm reversed. It was unveiled on 23 May 1923.[39]
Royal Marines Museum		Portsmouth, Hampshire	Roslyn was the sculptor of the memorial to Brigadier General F.W.Lumsden,V.C.,C.B.,D.S.O. in the Royal Marines Museum[40] Photograph courtesy "greentool2002".
St Giles Cathedral		Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland	Roslyn completed a bronze plaque for this Scottish Cathedral with an inscription in relief. Two female figures are depicted in low relief. Both are holding large banners in one hand. The figure on the left kneels with head bowed and holds a wreath in her other hand. The other figure holds a dagger.[41]
St Peter and St Paul Church		Tonbridge, Kent	Roslyn executed a memorial plaque for this Tonbridge church. The plaque remembers those men of Tonbridge who fell in the Second Boer War.[42]
Swanley War Memorial		Swanley, Kent	At Swanley in Kent by St Mary the Virgin Church, we again find Roslyn using a bronze “Victory” figure. The Swanley War memorial was unveiled in 1922 and amongst the names recorded is that of Staff-Paymaster Joseph Gedge, a Swanley man, who was killed in action on 6 August 1914 when his ship HMS "Amphion" sank in the Thames Estuary after hitting a German mine. Gedge was the first British officer killed in action in World War 1. Indeed a "Gedge Medal" named in honour of Joseph Gedge was subsequently issued.[43][44]
Tottenham War Memorial		Tottenham, London	At Tottenham in North London Roslyn carried out the sculptural work on the local War Memorial.[45] Photograph shown courtesy "Failing Angel".
Wetherby War Memorial		Wetherby, Yorkshire	The memorial at Wetherby stands on the Boston Road and features a winged “Victory” figure in bronze with a wreath held aloft in her left hand. Unveiled on 22 April 1922 by the Right Honourable Earl of Harewood.[46] Photograph courtesy "Speccy beardy". See Greengates and Calverley.

Other works[]

Work	Image	Location	Notes and References
Artillery House		Westminster London	Small sculpture of a First World War Howitzer can be found over the buildings entrances.[47]
New Bond Street Sculpture		New Bond Street London	Roslyn carried out some sculptural works over the premises of 70-71 New Bond Street in London. One composition is entitled "Commerce" and the other "Art". Photographs of these two works are shown below. There is a third statue above the premises entitled "Science".[48]
Norway House.[49]		Cockspur Street London	In London and above Norway House in Cockspur Street, by Trafalgar Square, there are four reliefs by Roslyn. The building was designed in 1914 and at the time no particular tenant had been identified so there is no particular reference in the reliefs to Norway itself. The compositions cover the themes of "Industry", "Transport", "Communications" and "Commerce".[50] In the photograph to the left a woman sits spinning and factory chimneys belch out smoke, The relief dedicated to "Industry".
Thompson Park, Burnley		Burnley, Lancashire	Roslyn created a bronze bust of Dr James Mackenzie, a cardiologist who spent over 25 years as a general practitioner in Burnley, for a memorial in Thompson Park. It was unveiled in 1931, shortly after the park opened.[51]

Further images Roslyn's work Kingsway, New Bond Street and Norway House[]

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  Imperial Buildings in Kingsway

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  Imperial Buildings in Kingsway

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  The work "Commerce" in New Bond Street

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  In "Transport" a woman holds a steam locomotive whilst ocean liners are shown above. Norway House work.

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  In "Communications" Mercury is shown with globe and caduceus with a Greek galley shown above.Norway House work.

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  "Art"

Notes[]

References[]