Where would be the appropriate site for the planned memorial bust to Isaac Rosenberg, the great World War One poet and artist?
The son of Jewish Lithuanian immigrants, Rosenberg grew up in deprived circumstances in the East End, leaving school at 14 but continuing his studies at night. In 1915 he enlisted, and was killed near Arras on April 1, 1918, in the great German spring offensive. His remains are unidentified to this day and his only real memorial is a gravestone in France recording his name and his profession, ‘Artist and Poet’.
He is regarded as one of the greatest of the poets of that war and, very unusually, wrote from the perspective of the ordinary soldier rather than officer.
JEECS’s campaign for a permanent memorial has now achieved the necessary funding. But where should it be situated? The only stipulation is that it needs to be indoors.
Ideas would be welcomed by JEECS chairman Clive Bettington, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The hope is for an unveiling ceremony on November 24, Rosenberg’s birthday.