Kennington War Memorial

What whispers echo from the Kennington War Memorial? This Portland stone sentinel stands as a poignant reminder of sacrifice. The Kennington War Memorial, unveiled in 1924, initially commemorated the local Queens Regiment. Their losses in the Great War, fought in far-off lands like France, Flanders, Salonika, and Palestine, were etched into the stone. Originally, a striking metal sculpture of military banners and weaponry adorned the memorial. Sadly, this has since vanished, leaving a ghostly absence. The Kennington War Memorial doesn’t just speak of the past. In 1947, it embraced the fallen of World War Two, becoming a testament to enduring bravery. The memorial was cleaned and restored in 2012, thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Kennington Park. A falling tree damaged the surrounding railings in 2014, but they were swiftly repaired, demonstrating the community’s commitment to preserving this sacred space. In 2017, English Heritage recognized its significance, listing it as Grade II. The youngest casualty remembered here was Bernard Arthur Johnson, a mere 17 years old when he fell in 1915. Sergeant Robert Robertson, on the other hand, represents the older generation, succumbing to sickness at 58 in 1919. Kennington Park itself became a “Centenary Field” in 2018, a living tribute to the Great War’s enduring impact. The Kennington War Memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict, a place to reflect and remember those who gave their all.