Summary
First World war memorial, c1920; relocated 1967.
Description
The memorial stands on a two-stepped concrete base, formerly railed. A plain 4’ stone cross stands on a 3’ plinth, which breaks forward to the east from a wall of three stone panels of the same height. The central east-facing panel of the plinth is inscribed as follows:
THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THEIR GALLANT KINSFOLK WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919 LORD ALL PITYING, JESU BLEST, GRANT THEM THINE ETERNAL REST
Ninety names were originally inscribed onto the other panels, almost all now illegible.
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 30 January 2018.
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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 erected in the churchyard of St Thomas of Canterbury as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It is believed to have been erected in 1920, originally near the south porch of the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, and was moved to its current location within the churchyard in 1967.
Reasons for Listing
The war memorial within the churchyard of St Thomas of Canterbury, Fulham, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Group value:
* With the Grade II* listed Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, the adjacent Grade II listed presbytery, and the Grade II listed tomb of Warrington Taylor.
External Links
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
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)