This is starkly illustrated by two memorials within a few yards of each other in the Jersey capital of St Helier.
Imposing, one might say over-the-top, is a large edifice erected to commemorate Sir George Don, who was the island's lieutenant-governor during the Napoleonic Wars from 1806-14.
Sir George is credited with using his authority to build much of Jersey's network of roads. According to theislandwiki, the monument "consists of a group of three statues of cast iron on a platform of granite, approached by steps and flanked by old cannons. Don stands on the central plinth, with the figures of Commerce and Industry on either side of him."
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| Sir George towers above Commerce and Industry |
Made from steel, but looking like rusty iron, it lists the dead in alphabetical order without giving ranks, dates of birth or other details.
The memorial was due to be unveiled in time for the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day last year, but the ceremony was postponed to November 23 because of inclement weather.
A report that day on Jersey's Channel 103 stated: "Since it was opened, it's been revealed that more work needs to be done to correct a construction mistake.
"Constable Crowcroft explains the problem: 'It was simply an error by someone in the factory where it was made, so they've agreed to replace that particular part - which will be done in the coming months.
"'The other question that has arisen is that people have contacted us to say that the names of their ancestors who fell in the war are not on the memorial.
"'That's clearly something we're looking into. There inevitably will be one or two names missed off and the memorial is constructed in such a way that extra names can be added in due course if they meet the criteria that we used'."
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| Understated, and arguably 100 years and two weeks late |
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