Obelisk

From London Gardens On-line: "In 1883 the small triangular area in the north of the park today, comprising a quarter of an acre, was given as public open space to the Hackney Board of Works free of charge and was protected under the London Squares and Enclosures Preservation Act of 1906. In 1928 this was described as a 'triangular area enclosed by posts and rails and maintained as an asphalt playground with a number of trees around the border'. Since then this area has been largely paved and has an obelisk set in the middle, any inscription now quite worn away and obliterated. This is surrounded by a series of grassed mounds behind low brick walls that have niches for seats, and a number of planted tubs."

War Memorials Online provides the full text of the report of the unveiling in the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette 23 February 1921: HAGGERSTON SCHOOL WAR MEMORIAL/UNVEILING AND DEDICATION/A very solemn and impressive ceremony took place at Haggerston-road L.C.C. School on Sunday afternoon on the occasion of the unveiling and dedication of the memorial by the Old Boys Club in honour of former scholars who fell in the Great War/The memorial takes the form of an obelisk in Portland stone, with a carved laurel wreath in front and the following inscription at the base:/ “Erected by the Old Boys’ Club. To the Glory of God and in memory of the old boys of Haggerston-road School who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918./‘Greater Love hath no man than this’ “/ Cards of invitation had been sent out to parents and widows of the fallen, and a large company was present, including Mrs. Spencer (widow of the late Vicar of All Saints’ Haggerston) Mr Haseldine, Mr T Kite, Alderman C.E. Taylor, Miss Simms (head mistress of the girls’ department) Miss Briggs (head mistress of the infants’ department) Mrs Bowler (late head mistress of the infants’ department) Mr H.E. Baker (present head master) and Mrs Baker, Councillor J.S. Leeson, Mr W.H. Cooper, Mr A Freeman, Mr C. Cattell, Miss Hughes, Miss Wild, Miss Crosby, Miss Wilson, Mrs Eminton, and Mr W. Flack (late head master of Queen’s-road L.C.C. School)/ Mr T Pearce J.P. (Chairman of the Managers) in his opening remarks, referred to his long connection with the school, and described how the old scholars, most of whom he knew, made a ready response to duty’s call, thus leaving behind a noble example for future generations to follow./The unveiling ceremony was performed by Mr A Hodge (late head master for 27 years) who in a touching address said he felt it to be the crowning episode of his life /The Rev. M.G. Davis dedicated the memorial/The hymns were accompanied by the local Salvation Army and at the close one of the cornet players sounded “The Last Post”/The following Committee was responsible for the inception of the memorial and the raising of funds etc, namely Mr A. Hodge, president; Messrs B.G. Edwards and E. A Stokes, vice-presidents; F Pledger, Ted Pearce, Councillor C Halcrow, J Lloyd, A. Zimmer, E. Zimmer, J. Walker W H. Dee, and H. Hughes.

IWM includes a reference to: Hackney Council Planning Committee document 15th July 1969, Appendix page 22 "Resiting of War Memorial, Haggerston Road", and the comment "2000: exposed position subject to vandalism therefore there were plans to relocated it in the centre of the open space at Stonebridge common.

Our conclusions: Originally unveiled on 20/2/1921 at Haggerston Road School (opposite Lee Street). The school was demolished following WW2 damage and the monument was probably moved to its position in front of the pub at that time. Resiting the monument was discussed  by the Council in 1969. In 2000 the relocating of the monument away from its easily vandalised position was again discussed by the Council. The monument has been in its current location since at least 2008. So we believe it was moved here in the 1930s and the fears about its safety and whether it should be moved elsewhere have never got beyond discussion.