Cast in Stone

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• 1901, Buller Memorial Committee decides to create a memorial to Redvers Buller
• 1901, Creation of the Buller Memorial Committee in Exeter
  The Buller Memorial Committee was created in a meeting held in Exeter Guildhall in October 26th, 1901. The committee members were Albert Edward Dunn (Mayor of Exeter, 1900-1901), Edwin Charles Perry (Mayor of Exeter, 1904), J. A. Loram, T. Moulding, W. Wreford (Deputy Mayor of Exeter, 1901), E. J. Domville, T. Linscott (Mayor of Exeter, 1905), C. J. Ross, and W. H. Steer. October 1901 was a critical moment in Buller's own career and his subsequent legacy. Buller had come under heavy criticism from British newspapers for the Army's performance in the Second Boer War, and he was subsequently relieved of his army command on October 22nd, 1901. Given the Exeter meeting was held four days later, the campaign to build a statue for Buller was very much shaped around this controversy over his historical reputation.
• 1901, Local politicians in Exeter respond to the dismissal of Redvers Buller
• 1902, Buller Memorial Committee decides to build a statue of Redvers Buller in Exeter as a memorial
• 1902, Ladysmith Day held in Exeter
• 1903, Boer War memorial window and tablet unveiled in Exeter Cathedral
• 1903, Buller Memorial Committee commissions Adrian Jones to produce the statue of Redvers Buller
• 1903, Buller Memorial Committee locates a site for the Redvers Buller statue in Exeter
  The site chosen was the triangular space opposite the entrance to Hele's School (today Exeter College).
• 1903, Ladysmith Day held in Exeter
• 1904, Ladysmith Day held in Exeter
• 1904, Work begins on preparing the site of the Redvers Buller statue in Exeter
• 1905, Installation of the Redvers Buller statue in Exeter
• 1905, Ladysmith Day held in Exeter
• 1905, Unveiling of the Redvers Buller statue in Exeter
  The statue of Redvers Buller was unveilled on September 6th, 1905. Redvers Buller himself attended the proceedings, as well as other colonial soldiers such as Paul Methuen and Frederick Stopford. The official proceedings for the day commenced with a Civic welcome at the Exeter Guildhall to the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, Mayors of Western Counties, and others. A procession then made its way to the cross-roads opposite opposite the entrance to Hele's School, where a stand facing Bury Meadow had been erected for ticket holders. Members of the Western Counties' Musical Association, Exeter Oratorio Society, and the Male Voice Choir were were placed on a platform by the gate of Hele's school, while the other two sides of the square were reserved for the general public. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, Hugh Fortescue, 4th Earl Fortescue and Viscount Ebrington, took up his position on the platform, accompanied by the Mayor of Exeter, the Sheriff, the Mayor's Chaplain, and Mr. A. E. Dunn (chairman of the Committee). The speakers provided a history of behind the campaign for a statue of Buller, which originated from a meeting held in the Guildhall in 1901. Fortescue then read a speech from Garnet Wolseley (whom Buller had served under during the Anglo-Ashanti wars in 1870s), who had intended to speak at the ceremony but missed it due to poor health. An extract of Wolseley's speech read as follows: "From my heart I congratulate Sir Redvers upon being so justly appreciated in this his own loved county, long famous for its fighting leaders, as well, as he has always been, in the Army, where I had the privilege of serving with him for many years. This statue will remind future generations of Western men of the brilliant services performed by Devonshire’s most illustrious son of this period, and cannot fail to inspire them with a desire to serve our Sovereign in their turn as well and as faithfully as Sir Redvers Buller had done throughout his long and brilliant career" A Union Jack flag covering was then removed to reveal the statue to the public. After musical renditions of 'Land of Hope and Glory' and the National Anthem were performed, a reception was held at Exeter's Victoria Hall.
• 1908, Funeral for Redvers Buller
• 1913, Memorial plaque to Redvers Buller unveiled in Exeter Cathedral
• 1953, Redvers Buller statue becomes a listed building
• 2015, Anti-colonial protest boards hung on the Redvers Buller statue
  The protest boards read "Wanted! For war crimes committed in China, Sudan and South Africa" and "Colonialism is nothing to be proud of". A pride flag was also attached to Buller's statue.
• 2019, Redvers Buller statue graffitied
• 2020, Online petition to change the name of Blackboy Road in Exeter
  The petition, which garnered 2,907 signatures as of April 5th 2024, laid out the following argument for changing the name: "Blackboy Road in Exeter is named after King Charles II. Charles had a darker complexion, different height and features from those around him which led to him being known as "Black boy". I think the fact this hasn't been changed already is insensitive and ignorant so having just moved into the area and learned the history behind the name, I want to see it changed. It's 2020 and we still have a road named after a racist nickname given to one of our monarchs. Please get behind this by signing the petition and sharing with as many people as you can. Thank you."
• 2020, Online petition to keep the name of Blackboy Road in Exeter
• 2020, Redvers Buller statue placed under review by Exeter City Council
• 2021, Creation of a working group for interpretation of the Redvers Buller statue
• 2021, Exeter City Council provides an update on the Redvers Buller statue
• 2021, Exeter City Council reverses its earlier decision and votes against the removal of the Redvers Buller statue
• 2021, Exeter City Council votes to relocate the Redvers Buller statue
• 2023, Installation of an interpretation board by the Redvers Buller statue
  The interpretation board, titled 'Buller's statue: Views of Empire', details the places and times where Redvers Buller was posted during his imperial career, as well as a range of historical and contemporary voices commenting on colonial history and its legacies today. The sites and conflicts listed on the board comprise of Devon (1839), India (1858), China (1860), Canada (1870) Ashanti (1873-1874), the South African Wars (1878/79), Egypt (1882), Sudan (1884-1885), Ireland (1886-1887), Army Headquarters and War Office (1890s), the Second South Africa War (1900), and Exeter (1905). Some of the historical voices featured include Louis Riel, Frances Colenso, and Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. There are also comments from Exeter residents of Ashanti and Sudanese heritage on aspects of Buller's legacy today.
• Exeter City Council Statues Review Group