Summary

War memorial, unveiled 1925, in the form of a tall granite obelisk.

Description

Tall granite obelisk, the pillar section resting on a two-step plinth. The front and back faces of the plinth's upper step bear a relief carving of a laurel wreath, with the front face also bearing the inscription: THEIR NAME / LIVETH FOR / EVERMORE. The right and left faces are inscribed: (right) IN MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF / MORTLAKE / AND EAST SHEEN / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES; (left) WARS / 1914-18 / 1939-45. The right face of the plinth's lower step reads: THE ROLL OF HONOUR / LIES BENEATH THE SWORD. The memorial stands in a circular area of paving; below the inscription is an incised sword carving set directly into the paving.

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, 20 July 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 the country. 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, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised in Mortlake and East Sheen as a permanent testament to the sacrifices made by the members of the local community. It was made by Albert Myers and unveiled in 1925, at the instigation of the Mortlake War Memorial Committee.

Reasons for Listing

Mortlake and East Sheen 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 it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: as an attractive and imposing obelisk war memorial.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478732

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)