Deptford War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial erected in commemoration of the men of Deptford who lost their lives during the Great War. Those who fell during the Second World War are also commemorated.

Reasons for Designation

Deptford War Memorial is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historical interest: as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by this community in both World Wars, and subsequent conflicts, it is of strong historic and cultural significance both at a local and a national level.
* Artistic interest: the monument has a handsome composition, and is enhanced by the strong artistic quality of the figurative carving.

History

Deptford war memorial was commissioned by the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford in 1919 to commemorate The Fallen of Deptford. It was designed by William Richards of Brockley, and the sculpted figures are by WW Wagstaff of Kingston-upon-Thames; the memorial was unveiled in July 1921 by Major General Sir Charles Townshend. It was erected as part of the memorial gardens, which were laid out by the Borough Council in the years following the end of the war.

The dates of the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

The memorial stands at the north end of the memorial gardens, which run alongside Lewisham Way. The memorial is of Portland stone, and takes the form of a tapering octagonal column surmounted by a carved flame, standing on a square pedestal and base. The cornice of the pedestal forms a segmental arch over each face. Against the east and west faces of the pedestal, standing on raised tablets, lean the carved figure of a soldier (to the east) and a sailor (to the west). The hands of the figures rest on the stocks of their up-turned guns; their heads are slightly bowed.

On the north face of the pedestal is the inscription: DEPTFORD'S / TRIBUTE TO / HER GALLANT SONS / WHO WERE FAITHFUL / UNTO DEATH / 1914-1918 / 1939-1945. Above the inscription is a relief carving of a setting or rising sun, and below a relief carving of a rifle and sword crossed through a laurel wreath.

The memorial stands on a circular dais, either side of which is a stone pier. The piers are linked by a curved run of railings which enclose the memorial to the south, and serve as northern boundary of the memorial garden. The piers and railings form an ensemble with the memorial.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 16 February 2017.

Sources

Books and journals
Coulter, J, Lewisham Past and Present: The Changing Face of the Area and its People, (2001)

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 16 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/12281
War Memorials Online, accessed 16 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/247313

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.