Further Information
HMS Aboukir was the third ship of that name. It was named after The Battle of the Nile (1798) which was fought in Aboukir Bay. She was a ship of 3,080 tons, 204 X 60 feet and draught 19 feet. She carried 90 guns and a crew of 830 men and was launched at Devonport Dockyard on 4th April 1848 She later became a screw ship with engines of 400 h.p. and 3,091 tons and from 1863 - 1877 she acted as receiving ship at Jamaica, where she was sold on 23rd November 1877.
 
The Restoration of the Memorial
Portsmouth City Council Minutes (1984: Min 338)
 
"An offer has been received from former residents of Portsmouth to contribute towards the restoration of one of the ancient monuments along the seafront as a tribute to the late Mr. A.E. Thomas and Mrs. E.E. Thomas.
Following discussions the Aboukir Monument, which is in serious need of restoration has been chosen.
The amount of the contribution will be £2,000 and would meet the cost of the following works:-
1. Removal of existing deteriorating lettered panels and replacement new panels.
2. Removal of top 750 mm of the Portland stone obelisk (severely eroded) and replacement with new stone.
The works referred to above are those most urgently required to the Aboukir Monument, other works estimated to cost approximately £4,100 are also required, and it is the intention of the City Museums Officer to undertake these works in future years if resources permit."
[Research by Cynthia Sherwood]
 
The photograph (middle left) taken in 1971 shows the extent of erosion to the whole memorial. Another taken in 1990 after the restoration work had been completed (in 1986) shows that almost the entire memorial had been replaced but that the top section was already beginning to deteriorate again. The latest picture taken in 2002 confirms that the process of deterioration is continuing.