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The Rangers London Regiment 12th Battalion

The Rangers London Regiment 12th Battalion is sited outside The Eisenhower Centre on Chenies Street in London. It is a limestone cenotaph atop sandstone steps. It carries the Regimental badge in bronze and details battles in which the Regiment participated. The memorial is Grade II listed and is sited in Bloomsbury conservation area.

War Memorials Trust first became aware of concerns about this memorial around 2001. Over the years various efforts have been made to engage those involved with the site and the local area to take responsibility for the memorial. It has been a challenge due to the number of parties potentially involved and various proposals have been made but not follow through. The images on this page commence with a historic view of the memorial with some of the early World War II additional inscriptions added but not those that subsequently appear at the base of the front of the memorial. The subsequent images show it over time from around 2001 to 2018 after works have been undertaken.

Finally, in 2018, it was wonderful to make a Grant Offer of £4,650 through War Memorials Trust Grants Scheme to support repair and conservation works. The stone was cleaned using a DOFF steam cleaning process. Loose mortar was removed from the memorial's construction joints and it was re-pointed with an appropriate lime mortar. Localised sharpening and deepening of lettering was undertaken just on those letters which had become illegible as there are only so many times letters can be recut so to maximise the lifespan of the inscription only the minimum required work was undertaken. The lettering was also re-painted with specialist black paint to match the original design. The bronze insignia was cleaned and re-patinated by specialists who also applied three coats of wax to protect the metal work. As part of the In Memoriam 2014 initiative free SmartWater was also applied to the metal elements to deter theft and ensure traceability should anything happen to it.

The memorial was erected in 1924. It is sited near the Drill Hall at which many enlisted making its location an important part of its history. During World War II The Eisenhower Centre before which the memorial stands was General Eisenhower's London headquarters as well as being an entrance to a deep level shelter.

The inscription on the front reads:

"The Rangers
12th County of London Regt.
1914 - 1919

Remember with gratitude the true and 
faithful men who in the Great War 
went forth for God and the right. 
The memory of those who returned 
not again is hereby perpetuated 
to be honoured for evermore.

K.R.R.C.
1939 - 1945 
Greece - 1941 
Crete, Western Desert - 1941 
Veve, Proasteion, Canea 
Retimo, Middle East 1941, Gazala 
Retma, Bir Hacheim 
Fuka Airfield, North Africa, 1942 
Ruweisat Defence of Alamein Line"

On the back the inscription states:

"To the immortal memory of 1193 Rangers who died for the Empire"

On the left hand side it lists:

"Ypres 1915 
St. Julien 
Frezenberg Ridge 
Somme 1916 
Gommecourt 
Ginchy 
Norval 
Transloy Ridges 
Arras 1917 
First Scarpe 1917 
Bullecourt 
Ypres 1917"

While on the right hand side it details:

"Langemark 1917 
Menin Road - Ridge 
Polygon Wood 
Passchendaele 
Cambrai 1917 
First Somme 1918 
St. Quentin 
Villers Bretonneux 
Amiens 
Second Somme 1918 
Albert 1918 
Epehy"

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM750
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 2255

War Memorials Online: 120319

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

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