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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    St Annes Church

    Allegory

    Source: Copyright Michael Hebbet

    1/17

    Current Location

    Memorial located in Limehouse Churchyard Park, off the Commercial Road E1. and in front of St Anne's Parish Church., St Anne's Church, 7 Three Colt Street, Limehouse, Tower Hamlets, Greater London, E14 8GL, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TQ 36785 81039

    Denomination

    Church of England

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-625

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    Type of Memorial
    Allegory (eg: Victory)
    WMR Reference Number
    625
    Description
    The memorial comprises a bronze robed figure of Christ with the right arm outstretched. Bronze representation depicts a trench scene. The statue stands on a pedestal of Portland Stone, with five steps leading from each direction to the platform on which it stands. There are five columns of names on each side. These start off in the front, where the columns are only three deep. On the other three sides, there are approximately 31 names per column. A total of 458 names are given.
    Inscription
    TO THE GLORY OF/ GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF LIMEHOUSE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS/ (458 names)/ "OF ANY NAMES NOT ENGRAVED IN PERISHABLE STONE/ GOD HOLDS ETERNAL RECORD IN HIS HEART ALONE"/
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    458
    Died
    458
    Information shown
    surname, forename initials
    Order of names
    alphabetical by surname
    Maker(s)
    • Mr Arthur G Walker RA, Sculptor

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    28th May 1921

    GENERAL THE LORD BYNG OF VIMY GCB, KCMG, MVO

    Dedicated

    28th May 1921

    Rev. J. B. Birch

    Custodian
    Church authorities / Parochial Church Council (PCC)

    Components

    Figure

    Height: c 3000mm


    Made from: Bronze


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1240064

    The full listing can be found at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1240064?section=official-list-entry

    Plinth

    Made from: Stone - Portland


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1240064

    The full listing can be found at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1240064?section=official-list-entry

    • The order of service for the Unveiling and Dedication of the Memorial to 458 Men of Limehouse who died for their country 1914 - 1918 - available at Tower Hamlets Library
    • CHRISTIAN ICONOGRAPHY AND FIRST WORLD WAR MEMORIALS/IWM REVIEW NO.6 by MORIARTY, C 72,74 Source: Home NIWM Published:IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM 1991 LONDON
    • East London Advertiser page 7 / 4th June 1921
    • East London Observer page 3, 4th June 1921
    • Dundee Evening Telegraph - Monday 30 May 1921 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19210530/023/0002 WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED BY LORD BYNG. A war memorial to 458 men of Limehouse who made the supreme sacrifice was unveiled General Lord Byng of Vimy. "They all died," Lord Byng said. doing a simple thing, but yet a greater thing. The simple thing was by doing their duty; the greater thing was laying down their lives for their country." The memorial is a pillar of Portland stone bearing the 458 names, a battlefield scene in bronze, surmounted by a large bronze statue of Christ. It is situated in the churchyard of Anne's, Commercial Road, E., whose rector, the Rev. J. B. Birch, officiated at the dedication ceremony.
    • https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/121846