Streatham War Memorial
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2022) |
Streatham War Memorial is a war memorial to the war dead of the London district of Streatham in the two World Wars. It was unveiled in 1922, and is sited near the northwest corner of Streatham Common, London Borough of Lambeth, England.
History
A Streatham War Memorial General Council was established in 1919 with plans to build a large Hall of Remembrance in Streatham to commemorate the 720 servicemen from the district killed during the First World War. The memorial council bought land on the Chimes estate near Streatham Common, but lack of funding meant the ambitious scheme was not implemented. Instead, the plan was changed so that the Chimes building would become a servicemen's club, with a memorial garden and war memorial. Limited funding also prevent this plan from being realised, and the building was sold to the United Services Club in 1922, other land was sold to London County Council, and the proceeds were used to build the war memorial. The selected designer was Albert Toft.
The memorial was unveiled on 14 October 1922 by General Sir Charles Monro, 1st Baronet, with a dedication by the Anglican Bishop of Southwark, Cyril Garbett. The ceremony was attended by a crowd of 6,000 people. The war dead were listed on Roll of Honour held at Streatham Library, but the document has been lost.
The nearby club building was damaged by a
Design
The memorial comprises a square column of white stone on a tapering base, topped by a life-size bronze statue of a soldier. The soldier stands in
The plinth bears the inscription "TO / OUR GLORIOUS DEAD" and two bronze wreaths resembling Transport for London
The memorial stands on a square of grass surrounded by iron railings and a paved area. Plaques set into the paving in front of the memorial commemorate the award of the
A civilian war memorial is also located in the memorial gardens. The memorial is a contemporary sculpture by Ekkehard Altenburger erected in 2006 which takes the form of plain stone obelisk carved from Irish blue limestone from Kilkenny on a plinth of the same material inscribed with a quotation from a poem by Rohit Sapra: "Grief has no boundaries". This memorial commemorates all people from Streatham affected by conflict or wars.
-
Suffolk Soldiers Boer War memorial, Ipswich -
Leamington War Memorial -
Stone War Memorial -
Streatham War Memorial
References
- Streatham War Memorial, National Heritage List for England, Historic England
- Streatham War Memorial, War Memorial Register, Imperial War Museum
- Streatham War Memorial, London Remembers
- Streatham Citizens' War Memorial, London Remembers
- Streatham War Memorial, War Memorials Online
- Streatham War Memorial, heartstreatham.co.uk
- Ekkehard Altenburger - list of commissions Artist's website
