WAR MEMORIALwar memorial · London

Lewisham War Memorial

Click to remember them. Lest we forget.

Photograph at the Lewisham War Memorial war memorial
Photograph: Reading Tom from Reading, UK, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

The Lewisham War Memorial commemorates all residents of the borough who died during the First and Second World Wars. Erected in 1921, this memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the profound sacrifices made by the local community. It specifically acknowledges those lost during the conflicts spanning 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, ensuring their memory is preserved for future generations. The presence of the memorial reflects a widespread tradition of honouring military and civilian casualties in communities across the United Kingdom.

This memorial was established in the aftermath of the First World War, a global conflict from 1914 to 1918 that profoundly impacted communities worldwide. Later, it also came to encompass the Second World War, which ravaged the world between 1939 and 1945. Lewisham itself experienced direct impacts during the latter conflict, notably the devastating bombing of Sandhurst Road School in January 1943, where 38 children and 6 staff members were killed. This local tragedy underscores why such memorials were so vital, serving as focal points for collective grief and remembrance during an era of widespread loss and destruction.

Lewisham War Memorial, designated with heritage status, can be found in the London Borough of Lewisham. Visitors can approach it respectfully to observe its details and reflect on its purpose. As a public memorial, it is generally accessible for viewing at any time. Further location specifics may be found using readily available mapping services, guiding individuals to its precise position within the urban landscape of South East London.

Inscription

IN MEMORY OF ALL LEWISHAM PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES 1914-1918 AND 1939-1945
Transcribed from the war memorial at Location details from OpenStreetMap.

Background

IN MEMORY OF ALL LEWISHAM PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES 1914-1918 AND 1939-1945

Original summary by TributeLegacy, informed by public sources.

Second World War

Photographs

Photograph of Lewisham War Memorial

Images via Wikimedia Commons - click to view licensing & full resolution.

Source: OpenStreetMap. Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.

Nearby locations in London

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Data sources

Location records are drawn from open, licence-clean datasets, kept here with attribution and gratitude to the people who maintain them.

  • Open Plaques, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). See openplaques.org.
  • Wikidata, available under the CC0 1.0 Universal dedication.
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. War memorial records are drawn from open community datasets (OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, NHLE) - never from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is excluded.

Editorial descriptions, photography and tribute links are original TributeLegacy work, layered on top of the open data.

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