A memorial to recognise the sacrifices of all soldiers based at the Woolwich Barracks, as well as civilians, who died as a result of military activity or conflict will be unveiled at St. George’s Garrison Church tomorrow, 11th November 2015. The names of 10 soldiers and one civilian, including that of Fusilier Lee Rigby, are listed on the memorial plaques. Lee’s mum, Lyn Rigby and her family will attend the ceremony.
The ruin of the Garrison Church seems a very appropriate place for such a memorial, which is mounted in the wall at the right hand side of the peaceful garden. The church also contains other memorial plaques and the Victoria Cross memorial with its recently restored marvellous mosaic of St George and the Dragon, and the names of all the Royal Artillery personnel who won the Victoria Cross from the Crimean War to the middle of the Second World War.
The men commemorated died in conflicts since the end of the Second World War, including Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and the bombing of the Kings Arms in Woolwich by the IRA:
Warrant Wardmaster James McDuff
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Died 9th February 1946, aged 51Private George Turner
Royal Norfolk Regiment
Died 27th June 1952, aged 19Fusilier Denis Jacobs
Attached to the Royal Fusiliers
(City of London Regiment)
Died 25th November 1952, aged 25Fusilier Stanley Anstead
The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Died 25th November 1952, aged 22Gunner Richard Dunne
The Royal Artillery
Died 7th November 1974, aged 42Alan Horsley
Civilian
Died 7th November 1974, aged 20Private Christopher Gordon Rayment
The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment
Died 4th August 2004, aged 22Fusilier Donal Meade
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Died 5th September 2005, aged 20Lieutenant Tom Tanswell
The Royal Artillery
Died 27th October 2006, aged 27Lance Corporal Jake Alderton
The Royal Engineers Regiment
Died 9th November 2007, aged 22Fusilier Lee Rigby
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Died 22nd May 2013, aged 25
When I dropped into the Garrison Church on Sunday the lettering on the central white marble memorial stone hadn’t been finished. The missing words are two well-known lines from Robert Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen”:
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
