The Russian War Memorial: A Finnish connection in Lewes

The Russian Memorial in Lewes is a Grade II listed obelisk that stands in the churchyard of St John sub Castro. It was erected by Alexander II, Emperor of Russia, in memory of 28 Finnish soldiers who died while prisoners of war in Lewes between 1854 and 1856 during the Crimean War. The soldiers were housed with local families in Lewes after being taken as prisoners to Britain and France. Although the city itself was a constant source of annoyance and insult for the officers, the local magistrates took a hard line against such behavior.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons