Wanstead War Memorial

Heritage listing

Details First World War memorial designed by Newbury Abbot Trent, unveiled 1922 MATERIALS: Portland stone pedestal, cast bronze figure, green marble plaque and black granite plinth. DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands to the north-east of Memorial Green, a detached section of Epping Forest, known as Tarzy Wood. It consists of a tall Portland stone pedestal, the upper section tapering, with a stepped base, supported on a stepped black granite plinth and stone platform. The pedestal is surmounted by a bronze figure of Victory crowned with a laurel wreath, wings outstretched, her right arm raised and her left hand holding a palm branch. On the front face of the pedestal a green marble plaque with incised gilded lettering reads: ‘MEN OF WANSTEAD / WHOM THEIR NEIGHBOURS / HEREBY COMMEMORATE / HERE NUMBERED AMONG / THOSE WHO IN THE / GREAT WAR / AT THE CALL OF / KING AND COUNTRY / LEFT ALL THAT WAS / DEAR TO THEM / ENDURED HARDSHIP / FACED DANGER AND / FINALLY PASSED OUT OF / THE SIGHT OF MEN BY / THE PATH OF DUTY AND / SELF SACRIFICE GIVING UP / THEIR OWN LIVES THAT / OTHERS MIGHT / LIVE IN / FREEDOM / LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER / SEE TO IT THAT THEIR / SACRIFICE WAS NOT IN VAIN / 1914-1918’ The head of the plaque is carved with a shield, crown and furled flags. Below, a stone plaque is inscribed: 'AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE / MEN AND WOMEN WHO LAID / DOWN THEIR LIVES / IN THE 1939-1945 WAR / WE WILL REMEMBER THEM' The four faces of the pedestal’s lower section are carved with the 199 names of the fallen. A small plaque on the base commemorates a serviceman who died in the Afghanistan conflict.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.