SOUTH FACE
BRITISH QUEEN
THIS STONE COMMEMORATES IN THE CHURCH YARD OF HIS NATIVE PARISH, THE MERITS AND THE PREMATURE DEATH OF THE FIRST OFFICER UNDER WHOSE COMMAND A STEAM VESSEL EVER CROSSED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
UNDAUNTED BRAVERY EXHIBITED IN THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRAFFIC IN THE AFRICAN SEAS, A CHARACTER UNEQUALLED FOR ENTERPRISE AND CONSUMMATE SKILL IN ALL THE DETAILS OF HIS PROFESSION RECOMMENDED FOR THIS ARDUOUS SERVICE.
LIEUTENANT RICHARD ROBERTS R.N.
IN ACCOMPLISHING IT HE SURPASSED NOT ONLY THE WILDEST VISION OF FORMER DAYS,
BUT EVEN THE WARMEST ANTICIPATIONS OF THE PRESENT: GAVE TO SCIENCE TRIUMPHS SHE HAD NOT DARED TO HOPE:
AND CREATED AN EPOCH FOR EVER MEMORABLE IN THE HISTORY OF HIS COUNTRY AND OF NAVIGATION.
THE THOUSANDS THAT SHALL FOLLOW IN HIS TRACK MUST NOT FORGET, WHO IT WAS THAT FIRST TAUGHT THE WORLD TO TRAVERSE WITH SUCH MARVELLOUS RAPIDITY THAT HIGHWAY OF THE OCEAN;
AND WHO IN THUS CONNECTING BY A VOYAGE OF A FEW DAYS THE EASTERN AND WESTERN HEMISPHERES,
HAS FOREVER LINKED HIS NAME WITH THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS OF NAVIGATION
SINCE COLUMBUS FIRST REVEALED EUROPE AND AMERICA TO EACH OTHER.
GOD HAVING PERMITTED HIM THIS HIGH DISTINCTION WAS PLEASED TO DECREE
THAT THE LEADER OF THIS GREAT ENTERPRIZE SHOULD ALSO BE ITS MARTYR:
LIEUTENANT ROBERTS PERISHED WITH ALL ON BOARD HIS SHIP "THE PRESIDENT".
WHEN, ON HER VOYAGE FROM AMERICA TO ENGLAND, SHE WAS LOST IN THE MONTH OF MARCH A.D. 1840
AS THE GALLANT SEAMAN UNDER WHOSE GUIDANCE WAS ACCOMPLISHED AN UNDERTAKING,
THE RESULTS OF WHICH CENTURIES WILL NOT EXHAUST,
IT IS FOR HIS COUNTRY, - FOR THE WORLD TO REMEMBER HIM:
HIS WIDOW WHO ERECTS THIS MELANCHOLY MEMORIAL MAY BE FORGIVEN IF TO HER EVEN THESE CLAIMS ARE LOST
IN THE RECOLLECTION OF THAT DEVOTEDNESS OF ATTACHMENT, THAT UNRIGHTNESS AND KINDLINESS OF SPIRIT
WHICH - FOR ALAS:- BUT THREE BRIEF YEARS. - FORMED THE LIGHT JOY OF HER EXISTENCE.
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WEST FACE
PRESIDENT
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
IVAN D'ESTERRE ROBERTS LIEUTENANT
AND COLONEL R.F.A. KILLED AT GALLIPOLI
IN COMMAND OF THE ANSON BATTALION
ON JUNE 4, 1915.
YOUNGEST SON OF THE LATE
MAJOR R. D'ESTERRE ROBERTS NORFOLK REGIMENT
AND GRANDSON OF LIEUTENANT R. ROBERTS R.N.
IN WHOSE MONUMENT THIS TABLET
IS PLACED. HIS COUNTRY NEEDED HIM AND
HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
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EAST FACE
BLACK JAKE
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NORTH FACE
SIRIUS