Memorial

Battle of The River Plate and HMS Ajax, Chatham - WW2

Setting

Source: Copyright Susan Featherstone

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Current Location

This is the renamed St George's Chapel, located within what was the naval barracks but now run by the Local Authority: it remains a naval memorial centre. IWM 76402 is to either side of this memorial. , St George’s Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham, Rochester Upon Medway, Kent, ME4 4UH, England

OS Grid Reference

TQ 76420 69510

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Names listed on this memorial

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Board / Plaque / Tablet
WMR Reference Number: 41077
Description: A wall-mounted, wooden board with three metal plaques. The top plaque explains the memorial, the larger middle plaque lists those who died at The Battle of The River Plate and the lower plaque lists those who died on HMS Ajax whilst serving in the Mediterranean: on each the lettering is raised and in gilt. A carved badge and banner are at the top of the board and there is a carved fish in each lower corner. An associated flag, presented by town of Ajax, Ontario, hangs in front.
Inscription: Banner:- REST ETERNAL/ GRANT/ UNTO/ THEM O LORD Upper plaque:- THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THE SHIPMATES OF THE/ SEVENTY SEVEN OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER/ PLATE ON THE 13TH DECEMBER 1939, WHEN THE BRITISH SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON/ COMPOSED OF THE CRUISERS AJAX, ACHILLES AND EXETER DEFEATED THE/ GERMAN BATTLESHIP ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE. Centre plaque:- H.M.S. AJAX/ (Names)/ H.M.S. ACHILLES/ (Names)/ H.M.S. EXETER/ (Names)/ Lower plaque:- IN MEMORY/ TO THOSE ON BOARD H.M.S. AJAX WHO LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN LATER ACTIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN/ (Names)

Commemoration

War: Second World War (1939-1945)
Number Commemorated: 100
Died: 100
Information shown: Surname, Initials, Rank, Ship, Place of death
Order of names: Ship, then Rank, then Surname
Additional Information: The 31 men died on HMS Ajax are also listed on IWM 76402 at the same location.

Conservation

Components

Board

Made from: Wood - Oak

Condition: Good

Further Information

HMS Ajax.org, https://www.hmsajax.org/ajax-crew-casualties, accessed 24th September, 2026

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

TQ 76420 69510

View location on Google Maps