- Type of Memorial
- Composite
- WMR Reference Number
- 83198
- Description
- Composite design (plaque and replica sculpture) with a cream concrete circular base foundation that has a black granite commemorative plaque with inscription displaying on the immediate left a sandblasted technique drawing of a man carrying a boulder that is based on a sketch from a Burma Railway laborer. Incorporated into the design beneath the granite plaque are 'sleepers' as a visual nod to the commemoration topic which is those who were Prisoners of War and were forced to work to construct the 'railway of death' (building works commenced in 1942). At the forefront of the memorial when standing at 6 o'clock, has a small grey boulder with an additional plaque which offers thanks to those involved in its creation and erection, is mounted on the top. Silver commemorative plaques are piled with central horizontal row on the immediate right side when again standing at 6 o'clock face. An additional silver plaque of this kind lays in front of the boulder as well as a series of the same kind behind the memorial at the 9 o'clock face.
The concrete base is a time capsule containing personal items from a Camden resident who suffered as a POW.
- Inscription
- Main plaque of black granite: IN MEMORY OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS/ OF BRITISH CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PERSONNEL/ WHO SUFFERED INCARCERATION, MANY DYING, / IN THE FAR EAST DURING THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ INCLUDING THOSE FORCED TO LABOUR/ ON THE BURMA RAILWAY./ THEY ASK FOR NOTHING BUT REMEMBRANCE/ OF THEIR LIVES AND A PROMISE OF/ PEACE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS./ IMAGE BY RONALD SEARLE, ARTIST AND PRISONER OF WAR WHO LABOURED ON THE BURMA RAILWAY/
Boulder plaque at forefront of memorial at 6 o'clock: ETERNAL THANKS GO TO/ COUNCILLOR ROGER ROBINSON/ CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL EDITOR ERIC GORDON/ PROJECT MANAGER SHAUN POLLARD/ ARCHITECT CHRIS ROCHE/ WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRIS MAYNARD/ AND THE GENEROSITY OF THE READERS OF THE/ CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL/ WITHOUT WHOSE HELP THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE/ UNVEILED BY VISCOUNT/ JOHN SLIM/ 21ST SEPTEMBER 2012/ THIS PLAQUE WAS DONATED BY MR ROSS HARMER/
Series of plaques on right:
1. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. / CORPORAL W J SHAW/ ROYAL ARTILLERY/ LEST WE FORGET/
2. For those who served. / PTE J Dziemieszko/ 17 Lwowski Infantry BN/ Polish Army/ Lest we forget/
3. For those who served. / L/Corporal J Williamson/ East Lancashire Regimen/ Lest we forget/
4. For those who served. / PTE M Dziemieszko / 15 Poznanski Lancers/ Polish Corps/ Lest we forget/
5. For those who served. / L/Corporal Bernard Knapp/ Royal Hampshire Regiment/ Arnhem/ Lest we forget/
6. For those who served. /Corporal Noel Ambrose/ Soldier and a gentleman/ Lest we forget/
7. CPL R Gorse/ 2nd BN Queens Regt/ Lest we forget/
8. PTE. H.M.Bowen/ R.E.M.E/ Lest we forget/
9. LPCL K Maynard/ Kings Royal Rifles/ Lest we forget./
10. L. CPL ARTHUR MAYNARD/ ROYAL SIGNAL REGIMENT/ LEST WE FORGET/
11. LCL. D. J. Paul/ R.A.S.C/ Lest we forget/
12. AIRCRAFT 1st CLASS JOHN MACKLIN/ RAF/ LEST WE FORGET/
Silver plaque beneath boulder at 6 o'clock facing: PTE ALFONSO ANTONIO GARIZIO/ 1ST CAMBRIDGESHIRE REGIMENT BORN: 28.10.1919 DIED : 25.3.2017/ IN LASTING MEMORY OF/ "TONE" WHO GAVE GREAT SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY,/ AND WHO UNVEILED THIS MEMORIAL/ WITH THE LORD VISCOUNT SLIM ON THE 21ST SEPTEMBER 2012./
Series of plaques 9 o' clock facing:
1. Major James Ben Mackenzie/ Royal Artillery/ Lest we forget/
2. FOR THOSE WHO HAV E SERVED./ R.T GOODERE/ ROYAL NAVY/ LEST FORGET/
3. For those who served./ T/Capt Leonad C Williams MID/ 11TH East African Division/ Burma 1944/ Lest we forget/
4. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED/ CORPORAL L. W BEETISON/ ROYAL AIR FORCE./ LEST WE FORGET./
5.When you go home,/ Tell Them of us and say,/ for your tomorrow,/ We gave our today./
6. In memory of Pte. Ernie Neighbour and all those/ who suffered and died on the Burma Railway,/ Lest we forget./
7. For those who served / Corporal John Broughton/ 1st BN. Somerset Light Infantry/ Lest we forget/
8. LT Eric Lomax/ Royal Signal Regt/ (The Railway man)/ Lest we forget/
9. LCPL GEORGE ALBERT PHILLIPS/ 1ST MIDDLESEX REGIMENT/ LEST WE FORGET/
10. CPL JOHN CLIFFORD STEPENS/ RAF SELETAR SINGAPORE/ LEST WE FORGET
11. PTE. JOSEPH KENNETH HANDLEY/ ROYAL ARTILLERY/ LEST WE FORGET