Showcase result

Buckhurst Hill

The war memorial in the Essex town of Buckhurst Hill near Epping Forest is a lychgate at the entrance to the churchyard of St John’s on the High Road. The lower part of the lych gate is constructed from stone, and above this is an oak framework and an oak framed roof covered with red tiles. The names of the fallen are in relief on bronze panels fixed to the upper part of the stonework on each side of the interior of the lychgate.

In March 2005 War Memorials Trust gave £250 towards the commissioning of new bronze plaques inscribed with the names of the 72 fallen of World War II to be placed inside the lychgate with the plaques from World War I. The World War II memorial prior to this had been in a corner of the church and it was felt to be more appropriate if the men were to be listed alongside those of World War I. These two plaques are below the original plaques in the lychgate.

On the bronze panels, above the World War I names, are the words

They passed out of the sight of men by the paths of duty

The dedication on the middle panel of the World War II plaques reads

1939 – 1945
World War 2
Names added
2005

After the Great War, the first planning meeting for a permanent war memorial was held at the end of January 1919; the proposal of a lychgate was decided upon at the next meeting in April, but the design was not approved by the church authorities, and was rethought in October of that year. On Friday 7th November 1920 a notice was published in the Woodford Times to the effect that “A complete list of the Fallen is required for inscription on the Memorial to be erected in honour of those who have given their lives in the Great War, and who were resident in this District.” Forms for inclusion of particulars were to be obtained from the Council Offices and returned to the secretaries of the War Memorial committee.

The chairman of the committee that oversaw the planning of the memorial was the Hon. Lieut. Col. H.T.A. Chidgey, the treasurer Major Bailey and the Hon. Secretaries Mr. G.H. Gratton and Mr. T.J. Tee. The surnames of Chidgey, Gratton and Tee can all be found on the memorial. The memorial was designed by the architect Mr. H. Tooley, and built by Mr. W.H. Tavener. The cost was £900.

Over 2000 people attended the unveiling and dedication ceremony on Sunday 27th February 1921. The procession to the memorial consisted of the officials of the War Memorial committee, Dr. Woodward the rector, who dedicated the memorial, the choir clergy from several local churches of various denominations, St. John’s churchwardens, doctors, nurses and VAD workers, Military Officers, representatives of demobilised soldiers and sailors, the War Memorial committee and members and officers of the Urban District Council. Other attendees were the Fire Brigade, in uniform, postmen, Special Constables and regular police, Boy Scouts, the Church Lads Brigade, members of the Buckhurst Hill Men’s Own and children from local Sunday schools. The singing was led by the band of the 4th Battalion Essex Regiment.

During the service the names of all 127 men on the memorial were read out. The Last Post was played, and at the end of the service all those present were requested to file through the lychgate past the memorial.

The rededication of the memorial after the World War II names were added took place on Thursday 20th June 2005. It was attended by Lord Petre, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, the Revd Raul Abraham, the Deputy Priest in Ordinary and Chaplain of the Tower of London, and Eleanor Laing, the local MP as well as representatives of the Royal British Legion and Guides, Scouts, Brownies and Cubs.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM1549
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 55976

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

Return to search results | Start a new search