Vernon March
Born 1891
Died 11 June 1930
Active: 1907 - 1930
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor
Born in Sutton, Yorkshire. Son of George Henry March (born c.1843 in Sutton, Yorkshire). He worked as a seed crusher (oil miller) in Yorkshire and then as a builder's clerk when the family moved to London c.1900. Eight of the March children became artists, and three of them sculptors (Sydney, Elsie and Vernon). The other artist siblings were Edward (1873-1941), Percival (born c.1878), Frederick (born c.1881), Dudley (1885-1962) and Walter (born c.1889). They lived and worked for most of their careers at the family home of Goddendene in Kent. The Marches, including their mother, Elizabeth, and father, George Henry, are buried at St. Giles Church, Farnbough, Kent. The grave is marked by a bronze statue by Sydney March, dating from 1922.
In January 1926, Vernon won the competition to design the National War Memorial of Canada in Ottawa. His winning design was for a memorial arch surmounted by Peace and included a large group (twenty-three figures) representing the eleven branches of the Canadian forces engaged in the First World War. Work on the memorial began in 1926 under the auspices of Canada's Department of Public Works. However, Vernon died of pneumonia in 1930 before completing the commission. Six of his siblings, including Elsie March, finished the large figure groups by 1932. The family are said to have cast the bronzes at Goddendene. In 1937, after the memorial groups had been shown in London, they were transported to Ottawa and the memorial arch was constructed. The unveiling ceremony took place on 21 May 1939.
In a catalogue entry for a bust of Harry Beasley by Elsie March owned by the British Museum, Aileen Dawson notes a sale of 168 lots comprising pictures, watercolours, drawings and sculpture by six members of the March family: Edward, Sydney, Henry (1879-1962), Elsie, Dudley and Vernon which was held at Sotheby's, Belgravia, on 2 August 1982.
This record includes information supplied by Claire Garrett. The details of the bust of Harry Beasley and the information about the March family compiled by Aileen Dawson can be found at: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/search_object_details.aspx?objectid=31695&partid=1&searchText=elsie+march&fromADBC=ad&toADBC=ad&numpages=10&orig=%2fresearch%2fsearch_the_collection_database.aspx¤tPage=1 (accessed 8 February 2012) There is further information about the National War Memorial of Canada in Ottawa at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_War_Memorial_%28Canada%29 (accessed 8 February 2012)
Wealth at death: £1,772 7s. 2d.
Probate date: 19 August 1930
Locations
Address 4 Studley Avenue Studley Street Hull HU8 7NX | View on map
1891 (Circa)
Address 69 Worfield Street Albert Bridge Road London SW | View on map
1901 (Circa)
Address Goddendene Farnborough Kent | View on map
1902 (Circa) - 1930
Address 64 Glebe Place Chelsea London | View on map
1907 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1907 - 1927
Exhibited 7 times, twelve works in all (including three statuettes representing the army, navy and victory for the Londonderry War Memorial in 1927)
Exhibited at The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Annual Exhibition, 1861-1951
1911
Exhibited once, 2 works
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
Vernon and Sydney: 'Sculptor', the oldest brother Edward and Elsie were 'Artist Painter' (Elsie 'etc.'), Percival (born c.1878) 'Artist Craftsman Marble etc.', and brothers Frederick (born c.1881), Dudley (born c.1884) and Walter (born c.1889) all 'Art Craftsmen Metal etc.' the whole family were working on their own account at home
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 3923 folio 148 page 19
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN3694 RG78PN139 RD42 SD3 ED7 SN79
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: Vernon March
Birth Date: abt 1892
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1930
Age at Death: 38
Registration district: Bromley
Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 2a
Page: 702
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Vernon March
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1891
Registration district: Sculcoates
Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
Volume: 9d
Page: 186
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Vernon March
Probate Date: 19 Aug 1930
Death Date: 11 Jun 1930
Death Place: Kent, England
Registry: London
Citing this record
'Vernon March', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib6_1250677094, accessed 01 Oct 2023]