Summary

War memorial in the form of a gabled cross set on a multi-tiered plinth.

Description

Tall octagonal stone shaft surmounted by a gabled cross. This rests on a plinth, each face of which bears a decorated shield representing the Instruments of the Passion. They are - front: the Cross; right: IOS (an ancient term denoting Christ); back: the pillar and whips, representing the Flagellation of Christ; and left: the ladder of the Deposition, with crossing Holy Sponge and Holy Lance. The plinth rests on a three-tiered platform - the top a square and the middle and bottom both octagons. The bottom tier contains four sloping steps, in line with the shields on the plinth, each bearing a wooden panel bearing the names of the Fallen. The back panel also bears the inscription: To the Glory of God and in Ever Grateful / Memory of the Men of this Church and Parish / Who Fighting in Many Lands in the Great War / Passed on Through Death to the Life Beyond.

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, 6 June 2017.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised in Tooting at All Saints Church as a permanent testament to the sacrifices made by the members of the local community. It was erected circa 1920. The original plaques were stolen circa 2010-11 and later replaced.

Reasons for Listing

Tooting (All Saints) War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifices they made in the First World War;
* Design: as a dignified and imposing gabled cross war memorial;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed All Saints Church.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478723

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)