Monument | War dead | WW1

Baker Street war memorial

Inscription

The men from the service of the Metropolitan Railway Company whose names are inscribed below were among those who, at the call of King and country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.
Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten.
{Below are 2 columns of 68 names each, in alphabetic sequence, with one more at the end in the centre. See the Subjects Commemorated for the names. 'Arthur Lewis' does appear twice. Following the list is:}
1914 - 1918
Erected by the directors, officers and staff of the railway.

Made of Carrara marble. The list of names is contained within an arch composed of fluted Ionic columns supporting an allegorical statue group depicting a lion overcoming a serpent. It was designed by C.W. Clark and unveiled by Sir Clarendon Hyde, the deputy chairman, on 11 November 1920.

2019: Via Facebook Keith Scholey told us that the London Metropolitan Archives hold a Roll of Honour which gives the full name, occupation, rank and regiment, and date of death of all these men. Many thanks Keith.

Site: Baker Street war memorial (2 memorials)

NW1, Baker Street Station

This site can be found at the east bound Circle Line platform. To the right of the monument there is an unusual charity collecting box made of a war-time shell. There is a slot for coins in the top and a brass shield on the front, inscribed: "12 inch high explosive shell, presented by Messrs Vicers Ltd, Barrrow Works. Donations to the Railway Benevolent Institution for Disabled & Distressed Railwaymen, Widows & Orphans."

We thank our colleague Alan Patient for spotting the red plaque in 2018 and sending us the photos. Note that, prior to the arrival of this plaque, the white wall used to be terracotta tiles but was presumably painted so that the red plaque would stand out.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Baker Street war memorial

Subjects commemorated i

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came a...

Read More

Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Pa...

Read More

Show all 139

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Baker Street war memorial

Created by i

Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Pa...

Read More

Charles Walter Clark

Architect. Chief architect for the Metropolitan Railway Company, designing 25...

Read More

Sir Clarendon Hyde

Sir Clarendon Hyde, the deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Railway Company i...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Baker Street war memorial

Also at this site i

First underground railway - red plaque

First underground railway - red plaque

Metropolitan Railway The world's first underground railway opened from Paddin...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Richards' Cross

Richards' Cross

E8, Mare Street, St John at Hackney graveyard

Note the natty, 'tiled' roof at the top. The inscription is difficult to read and the dates for A. C. E. Richards may be incorrect.

4 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Hoxton war memorial

Hoxton war memorial

N1, Bletchley Street, 3, Holy Trinity Church

As usual the active service death toll in WW1 is much greater than that in WW2. But we find it surprising that in WW2 more people died in...

War dead, Civilian war dead | WW1, WW2
181 subjects commemorated
Western Postal District war memorial - Rathbone Place

Western Postal District war memorial - Rathbone Place

W1, Rathbone Place, Post Office Sorting Office

The plaque does not point out that not all of the WW2 names were in the armed forces when killed: H. F. Phillips had survived his service...

War dead, War served, Civilian war dead | WW1, WW2, Other war
190 subjects commemorated
Sir Joseph Bazalgette

Sir Joseph Bazalgette

WC2, Victoria Embankment

Bronze 1899

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Lloyd's of London WW2 memorial

Lloyd's of London WW2 memorial

EC3, Leadenhall Street, 12

This arch was the entrance to Lloyd's 1928 building. 37 feet high, of Portland stone, it was retained and now, rather incongruously, sits...

War dead | WW2
219 subjects commemorated