Althorne War Memorial (EHER 49950)

A First World War memorial, raised in 1926, with names added of the Second World War. It was designed by W Savage Cooper and constructed by voluntary local labour. The memorial is a public shelter in the form of a lychgate, made of oak and covered with red plain tiles. A bronze plaque, made by Messrs Critall, bears the names of 18 men who fell during the First World War and a second plaque commemorates two men who fell during the Second World War.

June 2023. Grade II listed. A First World War memorial, raised in 1926, with names added of the Second World War. It was designed by W Savage Cooper and constructed by voluntary local labour. At a very well attended ceremony, the memorial was unveiled by Sir Arnold Wilson and dedicated by the Bishop of Barking. The memorial is a public shelter in the form of a lychgate, standing on a rectangular paved area and enclosed by a low chain fence. The structure is made of oak, with a roof covering of red plain tiles. It stands in a prominent location on a triangular green at the junction of Main Road and Station Road, on land gifted by the London and North Eastern Railway Company. Above the seat backs is a large bronze plaque, made by Messrs Critall, with wreath and laurel branches in relief, flanked by the outline of a battlemented wall. Below this is a carved banner with the following inscription in raised lettering: THEY WERE A WALL UNTO US/ BOTH BY DAY AND NIGHT. Around the four sides of the plaque is the following inscription, also in raised lettering: ALTHORNE ALSO SENT FORTH MEN TO FIGHT THAT YE MIGHT INHERIT FREEDOM AND PEACE WITH VICTORY HONOUR THEREFORE THOSE WHO DIED UNTO THIS END 1914 - 1919. The names of the eighteen men who fell are listed below. Under the main plaque, a small separate plaque, also in bronze, bears the date 1939 - 1945 and the names of the two men who fell in the Second World War. <1>