The number of people who were commemorated on war memorials at one time in Bermondsey is far greater than those we see on war memorials today. Some, from WW1, were lost in the bombing in WW2. Some have been lost as churches and other have been demolished in the cause of progress and redevelopment.
If you have a picture of a war memorial, please post it here ... before that's lost for eternity as well.
War Memorials
Re: War Memorials
Hi Paperboy, not a War Memorial but I feel you are of the same mind as me, that these brave people from our Manor should be remembered.
Axford Joseph, born Bermondsey Surrey, enlisted Camberwell, Surrey (Southwark, Surrey) S/34719 RFN. Killed in action, France and Flanders, 31st March 1918".
And in the illuminated Book of Remembrance at St Mary Magdalene church Bermondsey, kept in a glass case behind the lectern. This entry reads:
"Axford Joseph, Rifle Brigade".
In 1919 his next of kin received the British War Medal (Silver), the Victory Medal (Bronze) and a small bronze plaque inscribed with his name and the words:
"He died for Freedom and Honour"
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"
Axford Joseph, born Bermondsey Surrey, enlisted Camberwell, Surrey (Southwark, Surrey) S/34719 RFN. Killed in action, France and Flanders, 31st March 1918".
And in the illuminated Book of Remembrance at St Mary Magdalene church Bermondsey, kept in a glass case behind the lectern. This entry reads:
"Axford Joseph, Rifle Brigade".
In 1919 his next of kin received the British War Medal (Silver), the Victory Medal (Bronze) and a small bronze plaque inscribed with his name and the words:
"He died for Freedom and Honour"
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"
Re: War Memorials
A memorial to Bermondsey men who fell during World War One, at 2 Old Jamaica Road, the site of the old military training centre, which is currently being converted into flats.
The grade-listed memorial details the names of 970 men who served in the 22nd Battalion of the Queen’s Regiment, which used to be housed in the old building. Most of the men were from the old Bermondsey Borough.
“When the battalion left in 1915 it was almost exclusively Bermondsey men. This should be important to the community. We are honouring these men by coming together to show that even after the military training centre as gone, the importance of these men still remains.”
The grade-listed memorial details the names of 970 men who served in the 22nd Battalion of the Queen’s Regiment, which used to be housed in the old building. Most of the men were from the old Bermondsey Borough.
“When the battalion left in 1915 it was almost exclusively Bermondsey men. This should be important to the community. We are honouring these men by coming together to show that even after the military training centre as gone, the importance of these men still remains.”
Last edited by kiwi on Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: War Memorials
24-foot high tribute was erected in 1921, and was afforded by the help of local businessmen like Arthur Carr of Peek Frean & Co, “one of the area’s biggest movers and shakers,” who raised £100,000, its unveiling took place on October 8 1921. Some 30,000 men and women from Bermondsey and Rotherhithe contributed to our country’s naval, military and air forces.
War memorial West Lane, Bermondsey, Southwark 1921 Listed Grade II 10 This memorial was erected after the First World War to honour the men of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe who served and died in that conflict. It was unveiled by the Bishop of Southwark in October 1921 and replaced a temporary memorial of 1920. Made of granite, the monument takes the form of a tall Corinthian column, topped with ball and flame, with two pairs of bronze draped flags at the base. The column is on a square plinth with arched faces, which bear inscriptions in lead lettering and bronze coats of arms of the former boroughs of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. Further inscriptions were later added to the monument, commemorating both civilians and members of the civil defences and fire brigade who lost their lives in the Second World War. One inscription recalls the heavy price paid by ordinary Londoners in the London Blitz, which began in September 1940 and particularly affected this docklands area.
It was unveiled in 1921 by a Mrs Hetty Steer who lost 3 sons during WW1.
War memorial West Lane, Bermondsey, Southwark 1921 Listed Grade II 10 This memorial was erected after the First World War to honour the men of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe who served and died in that conflict. It was unveiled by the Bishop of Southwark in October 1921 and replaced a temporary memorial of 1920. Made of granite, the monument takes the form of a tall Corinthian column, topped with ball and flame, with two pairs of bronze draped flags at the base. The column is on a square plinth with arched faces, which bear inscriptions in lead lettering and bronze coats of arms of the former boroughs of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. Further inscriptions were later added to the monument, commemorating both civilians and members of the civil defences and fire brigade who lost their lives in the Second World War. One inscription recalls the heavy price paid by ordinary Londoners in the London Blitz, which began in September 1940 and particularly affected this docklands area.
It was unveiled in 1921 by a Mrs Hetty Steer who lost 3 sons during WW1.
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Last edited by kiwi on Thu Feb 11, 2021 1:50 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: War Memorials
The St Saviour’s War Memorial.
The St Saviour’s War Memorial that commemorates the fallen from the parish of St Saviour’s in the First World War was erected in 1922 a scene that represent the Navy and the RAF. On the short side facing south is a stone relief of St George and the Dragon, representing Victory over evil, and on the side facing north there is “a standing, grieving, veiled woman with a naked baby and a dove at her feet, symbolising 'the grief of the present generation [and] the hope of assumed peace of future generations” The names of the fallen are inscribed in a memorial under another carved relief of St George and the Dragon behind the high alter in Southwark Cathedral.
The war memorial is situated at the north end of Borough High Street, just before Southwark Street, on a small, triangular piece of land
The St Saviour’s War Memorial that commemorates the fallen from the parish of St Saviour’s in the First World War was erected in 1922 a scene that represent the Navy and the RAF. On the short side facing south is a stone relief of St George and the Dragon, representing Victory over evil, and on the side facing north there is “a standing, grieving, veiled woman with a naked baby and a dove at her feet, symbolising 'the grief of the present generation [and] the hope of assumed peace of future generations” The names of the fallen are inscribed in a memorial under another carved relief of St George and the Dragon behind the high alter in Southwark Cathedral.
The war memorial is situated at the north end of Borough High Street, just before Southwark Street, on a small, triangular piece of land
Re: War Memorials
kiwi wrote:A memorial to Bermondsey men who fell during World War One, at 2 Old Jamaica Road, the site of the old military training centre, which is currently being converted into flats.
The flats have been completed and the memorial is now lit at night (which it never was before).
Re: War Memorials
Cheers Fogbrain, thank's for that post it really looks nice, with me living over here I would probably never have seen that. Kiwi.
Re: War Memorials
A plaque in St. James tells a story of local Bermondsey people who died in a foreign country. This is the Bermondsey Boer War Memorial: The memorial was unveiled in 1903 in the original Bermondsey Town Hall in Spa Road (next to the Municipal Offices ). The Town Hall suffered badly from bomb damage during the Second World War and was finally demolished in the 1960s. The memorial was stored in a council yard, and when that yard was in turn closed, a suitable location for the memorial was looked for, with St. James being a logical home for a memorial to local Bermondsey solders.
Re: War Memorials
The reverse face of the War Memorial Arch and colonnade at Guy's Hospital, Memorial Park. The arch was designed by William Walford. It was unveiled by the Duke of York in July 1921. It commemorates the staff and students of Guy's Hospital and its Medical School who died during World War One. Their names are recorded on the arch. The memorial park was redesigned in 1992. The arch was moved and the colonnade was removed. It is not clear where the arch was originally sited. A building visible through the arch bears the street name 'Great Maze Pond'.
Last edited by kiwi on Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: War Memorials
Donald Hunter – who served as radio officer on three Norwegian merchant ships carrying dangerous cargoes to allied forces – at the memorial outside the Norwegian Church, Rotherhithe 1914-1918. Be nice if someone could tell us a little bit more about Mr Hunter.
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