Lost in thought as you stand here today are the stories etched in stone. This is the Shepperton War Memorial. It is a tribute to lives sacrificed. It stands at the junction of Russell Road, Refree Way, High Street and Church Road. It is a solemn reminder of Shepperton’s sons lost in war.
The Shepperton War Memorial was unveiled on March 27th 1921. Locals funded its construction. The memorial commemorates the residents of Shepperton. They died in World War I, World War II and the war in Croatia.
Look closely at the memorial’s design. A three-stepped base rises to an octagonal plinth. A square-wheel cross tops the plinth. Caps adorn the arms of the cross. Bronze plaques display the names of the fallen. The entire memorial rests on a paved base. An additional plaque commemorates the conflict in Croatia.
The inscription speaks volumes. It says: “To the glory of God and in everlasting memory of the men of this parish who made the supreme sacrifice in two World Wars 1914 – 1918 1939 – 1945.”
Consider the names etched here. William Henry Appleton was killed in action in the Balkans. Percy Henry Atfield died in Belgium. John Henry Cannon died while serving on H.M.S. Ganges. These are not just names. They are stories of Shepperton’s young men.
The Shepperton War Memorial lists 67 names from World War I. Thirty names are from World War II. One name is from the conflict in former Yugoslavia, Croatia.
In the 1980s the roundabout was rebuilt. The Shepperton War Memorial was temporarily removed. In 1996 a new cross was fitted. The original had been damaged. In 1999, the Croatia plaque was added.
One name stands out. Lieutenant Hugh Vivien Wadham joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1912. He flew to France in 1914. He spotted the German First Army near Mons. This allowed the British to withdraw. Wadham was mentioned in dispatches. He died in January 1916.
Feel the weight of history here. The Shepperton War Memorial is more than stone and bronze. It is a place of remembrance. It is a symbol of sacrifice. It is a testament to Shepperton’s enduring spirit.