Obelisk

Lewisham war memorial

Erection date: 7/5/1921

Inscription

{On the obelisk plinth, beneath the coat of arms of the former Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham with the motto 'salus populi suprema lex' (the welfare of the people is the highest law):}
In memory of all Lewisham people who lost their lives 1914 - 1918 and 1939 - 1945.

{On a free-standing urn at the base of the obelisk:}
Womens (sic) Section E&C Lewisham Branch British Legion
We will remember them

{On the two piers in front of the obelisk beneath the badge of the Royal West Kent Regiment with the motto 'invicta' (unconquered):}
These piers were erected to the memory of the officers and men of the 11th battalion Royal West Kent Regiment who fell in the great war.

The Lewisham War Memorials website says that the inscription on the main memorial reads:
'To the memory of Lewisham heroes 1914 - 1918 and 1939 - 1945', and also that a plaque with the addition of World War II was unveiled on the 11th November 1949. Although this addition is probably what is now on the obelisk, the original one certainly couldn't have referred to '1939 - 1945'

E&C Lewisham on the urn stands for East and Central Lewisham.

The same inscription appears on both of the piers, although the left hand one is badly worn. Perhaps a more recent copy was made on the right hand one, or that one has been restored.

Site: Lewisham war memorial + 6 VCs (8 memorials)

SE13, Lewisham High Street

The 6 VC plaques are laid into the ground in front of the monument.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Lewisham 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...

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World War 2

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do vis...

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Civilian deaths in London caused by enemy action

This page brings together all the memorials that we have for civilians killed...

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Lewisham citizens killed in the World Wars

' Lewisham people who lost their lives 1914 - 1918 and 1939 - 1945'

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11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

The battalion was formed in Lewisham and fought in France and Italy. It was d...

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

Created by i

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

Also at this site i

Alan Jerrard VC

Alan Jerrard VC

{Beneath an image of a Victoria Cross medal:} Lieutenant Alan Jerrard Royal F...

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Clifford Coffin VC

Clifford Coffin VC

The plaque is on the ground near the Lewisham war memorial.

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Lewisham Victoria Cross memorial

Lewisham Victoria Cross memorial

This website gives the name of the recipients of the Victoria Cross from Lewi...

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Lieutenant Richard Jones VC

Lieutenant Richard Jones VC

The plaque is on the ground near the Lewisham war memorial.

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Major Francis Harvey VC

Major Francis Harvey VC

The plaque is on the ground near the Lewisham war memorial.

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Nearby Memorials

Hampstead War Memorial

Hampstead War Memorial

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From the inscriptions it seems that the obelisk was created as a WW1 memorial and the flanking walls were added after WW2. We thank Davi...

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Robert Waithman - obelisk

Robert Waithman - obelisk

EC4, Salisbury Court

Originally erected near Waithman's shop in Fleet Street at its junction with Farringdon Street, this obelisk was moved in 1951 to Barthol...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Thomas Paine obelisk

Thomas Paine obelisk

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Erected on the 200th anniversary of the publication of Paine's "Rights of Man", written while Paine lived at the Angel Inn which used to ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Steve Fairbairn

Steve Fairbairn

SW15, Putney Towpath Embankment

{Medallion on an obelisk, with a portrait:} Steve Fairbairn, 1862 1938. {Plaque beneath medallion:} This memorial commemorates the cen...

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St George's Obelisk - lost

St George's Obelisk - lost

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We knew that the obelisk now at St George's Circus spent much of its life in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, from about 1897 - 1998, and ...