The Funchal City Council has begun the second phase of conservation and restoration work on the Monument to the Fallen of the Great War (1914-1918), located on Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses.
Following an initial phase focused on cleaning and general conservation of the sculpture, the municipality has now moved on to a more extensive restoration programme aimed at preserving and enhancing one of Madeira’s most significant First World War memorials.
The work includes cleaning and treating the stone structure, conserving the metal chains, restoring the commemorative plaques and their inscriptions, and repairing the cross at the top of the monument. Structural repairs will also be carried out to ensure the monument’s long-term stability, safety, and preservation.
The project forms part of the municipality’s wider strategy to protect Funchal’s historical and cultural heritage. It follows the identification of deterioration affecting the monument and is intended to safeguard it for future generations.
Protective barriers and temporary signage will remain in place around the site throughout the restoration works to ensure pedestrian safety and minimise disruption in this busy area of the city.
The monument, designed by the renowned Madeiran sculptor Francisco Franco (1885-1955), was inaugurated on the 2nd of February 1952. It commemorates the Madeiran men who served during the First World War, including those who fought at the Battle of La Lys, and stands as a lasting tribute to their service, sacrifice and contribution.
The monument further commemorates Madeira’s contribution to the First World War, a chapter of the island’s history that is often overlooked. Around 150 Madeirans served with the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP) on the Western Front in France and Flanders, while others took part in Portugal’s campaigns in Africa. Their service came at a time when Portugal had entered the war alongside the Allied Powers, with thousands of Portuguese troops deployed to defend the front lines in northern France.
Many Madeiran servicemen were present during the Battle of La Lys on the 9th of April 1918, one of the darkest days in Portugal’s military history. Exhausted after months in the trenches and awaiting relief, the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps was overwhelmed during the opening stages of the German Spring Offensive. In a single day, around 7,000 Portuguese soldiers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Among the Madeiran contingent, Second Lieutenant João Paulo da Veiga Pestana, from Funchal, was killed in action near Laventie, while six other Madeirans were captured and remained prisoners of war until the Armistice later that year.
The Monument to the Fallen of the Great War stands not only as a tribute to those who lost their lives, but also as a lasting reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the island’s servicemen. The restoration will help preserve one of Madeira’s most important memorials, ensuring that the stories of those who served continue to be remembered by future generations.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM
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