War Memorials

War memorials are a familiar and cherished part of the townscape of the Borough. They are a poignant reminder of all those local people who lost their lives in two World Wars and other armed conflicts. They take an astonishing variety of forms that include simple stone crosses, gardens, books and rolls of honour, stained glass windows and in some cases whole buildings.

In order to protect these features, it is important that the Borough has a record of all community and public memorials within its area and this is linked with the national database held by the UK National Inventory of War memorials.

Definition

The Ministry of Justice advises that:

“Any physical object erected or dedicated to commemorate those killed as result of armed conflict should be regarded as a . War memorials to those who served and returned alive as well as civilian casualties and animals should also be included.”

Monuments to individuals have been excluded for purposes of the London Borough of ’s gazetteer. It can be seen at: www.hillingdon.gov.uk/planning/conservation and urban design/war memorials.

Memorials within the Borough

Sixty-nine war memorials are currently recorded in Hillingdon. Twenty-one are publicly accessible, for example town centre cenotaphs or grave yard crosses, whilst the majority of the remainder take the form of windows, wall tablets or other monuments in the Borough’s churches. However some institutions, sports clubs and private companies have their own memorials to staff, pupils or members killed in war, both military and civilian: District Council, Natwest Bank, Northwood Post Office, Bishopshalt School, Uxbridge Cricket Club, The Gramophone Company, Hayes, and the Bells United Asbestos Company. The Youth of Ruislip, twenty of whom were formerly Scouts, are remembered in an open air chapel in .

Most memorials commemorate the dead of the First World War, some the Second, and some both. Only one, Harlington Village War Memorial, lists a casualty of the Korean War. There is also a memorial to the RAF Coastal Command in Emmanuel Church, Northwood and a window commemorating the Home Guard in St. Giles Church, .

Three memorials relate to specific tragedies: a Canadian RAF Halifax bomber crash landed on Moor in 1943 with the loss of all on board; 23 WRENS died when the SS Aguila was torpedoed en route to Gibralter in 1941, (St. Edmund the King, Northwood Hills); and 37 workers in the Gramophone Factory, most of them women, were killed when their shelter was bombed in 1944, (Cherry Lane Cemetery, Hayes).

Most memorials relate to English casualties, but there are some notable exceptions. The Polish War Memorial is a well known landmark; however there is also a memorial to Polish Airmen at “The Orchard”, Ruislip. The Australian Military Forces are commemorated at St. Mary’s Church, , and in the adjoining Australian Military cemetery, where many are buried. There is also a memorial to the Irish Guards in Emmanuel Church, Northwood.

A few memorials take the form of buildings. The United Reformed Church in Northwood was commandeered as an auxiliary military hospital in 1914, and a tablet commemorates the 2374 soldiers who were treated there. Pinner and Northwood Community Hospital opened in 1924, and is dedicated to the dead of the First World War.

Protection

Whilst the majority of war memorials within this Borough are treasured, sadly a few have in the past suffered from neglect, graffiti, vandalism and theft. Some have been lost through the reuse, or redevelopment of buildings and some have been damaged by well meaning, but inappropriate repairs.

A few memorials are statutorily listed, for example, The Polish War Memorial (grade II), or are part of the fabric of listed buildings. Works to these structures, including cleaning, would normally require listed building consent. Monuments within listed churches in use will normally be protected under the Church’s own planning system, known as “ecclesiastical exemption”.

Many of the remaining memorials are included in the Council’s “Local List of Buildings of Architectural and Historic Importance”. Whilst a local designation, these are protected under the policies contained within the Government’s Planning Policy Statement 5, London Plan policies and also by the relevant Council policies. The emerging Local Development Framework will also contain a policy aiming to protect all war memorials during development, preferably in their original location or, if impossible, to ensure their sympathetic relocation.

As part of our shared heritage, it is important that war memorials remain accessible and are not sold to private owners, or accorded a commercial value. Where possible, war memorials should be insured against theft or damage. The War Memorials Trust suggests that owners should contact The Association of British Insurers for advice on this matter.

The Association of British Insurers 51 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HQ Tel: 020 7600 3333, [email protected], web site: www.abi.org.uk

Repairs and works to monuments

The main purpose of repair should be to counter the process of decay without damaging the appearance of the monument. It is important that features which provide special interest are preserved and the historic fabric retained. Before starting repairs, the following should be undertaken:

 A condition survey and method statement for the repairs should be completed by a suitably experienced professional  A proper record of the monument established  Confirmation that all necessary consents are in place  Ensure that appropriate materials, techniques and processes are to be used

A survey report should identify the characteristics of the memorial and the nature of its defects. A method statement should include details such as construction, materials and features of the memorial, details of any previous works, its condition and full details of the proposed works, including drawings if necessary. If consent is required, then these documents will form part of the supporting information required for the submission. Information on the submission of applications can be found on the Council’s web site www.Hillingdon.gov.uk and also on the Government’s planning web site, www.planningportal.gov.uk.

Advice on the repair and upkeep of war memorials can be sought from the Council’s Conservation Team, tel: 01895 55 6000.

Funding and advice

It may be difficult to establish who is responsible for repair work, or there may not be the resources to pay for it. Whilst the Council may be able to assist with the repair of war memorials within the Borough, the following organisation may also be able to assist with projects:

War Memorials Trust 2nd Floor, 42a Buckingham Place Road, London SW1W ORE, tel: 020 7233 7356/ 0300 123 0764, [email protected], web site www.warmemorials.org

Further information

The London Borough of Hillingdon Conservation Team For information on protection and repairs Tel: 01985 55 6000 Website: www.hillingdon.gov.uk

The UK National Inventory of War Memorials (Imperial War Museum) Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ Tel: 020 7207 9851/9863 Website: http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/

Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7DX Tel: 01628 634221 Website: www.cwgc.org

War Memorials Trust 2nd Floor, 42a Buckingham Place Road, London SW1W ORE Tel: 020 7233 7356/ 0300 123 0764 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.warmemorials.org

The Association of British Insurers 51 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HQ Tel: 020 7600 3333 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.abi.org.uk

WAR MEMORIALS IN LONDON BOROUGH OF HILLINGDON

Address of Memorial, or Address of Building in which Memorial is located Ward Sr No EMI Group Archive Trust, Dawley Road, Hayes: Brass Botwell HWM 085 Plaque to The Gramophone Company St. Jerome’s Church, Judge Heath Lane, Dawley, Hayes: Roll Botwell HWM 041 of Honour Bishopshalt School, Royal Lane, Hillingdon: Wooden Panels Brunel HWM 039 St. John the Baptist’s Church, Royal Lane, Hillingdon: Lady Brunel HWM 051 Chapel tablet St. John the Baptist’s Church, Royal Lane, Hillingdon: Brunel HWM 050 Wooden Panelling St. John the Baptist’s Church, Royal Lane, Hillingdon: Brunel HWM 056 Wooden Panel St. John the Baptist’s Church, Royal Lane, Hillingdon: Brunel HWM 049 Triptych Hillingdon War Memorial, St. John’s Churchyard, Royal Brunel HWM 048 Lane, Hillingdon St. Laurence Church, Church Rd, Cowley: Lychgate and Brunel HWM 059 Brass Plaque St. Laurence Church, Church Road, Cowley: Brass Plaque Brunel HWM 060 Salem Baptist Church, 907 Uxbridge Rd., Uxbridge: Chair Brunel HWM 065 Salem Baptist Church, 907 Uxbridge Rd., Uxbridge: Table Brunel HWM 101 & Eastcote War Memorial, Field End Road, Eastcote HWM 009 East Ruislip Eastcote & Ruislip War Memorial, Eastcote Road, Ruislip HWM 002 East Ruislip St. Lawrence Church, 2 Bridle Road, Eastcote: Triptych Eastcote & HWM 016 East Ruislip Harefield War Memorial, Harefield Green, Rickmansworth Harefield HWM 007 Rd., Harefield St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: Australian Military Harefield HWM 091 Cemetery Map St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: ANZAC Chapel Harefield HWM 092 Plaque St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: ANZAC Hospital Harefield HWM 093 “Staff and Patients Presentation Book” St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: Marble Plaque to Harefield HWM 011 Australian Imperial Force St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: Tablet to Bells Harefield HWM 015 United Asbestos Co. St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: Organ Case Harefield HWM 036 St. Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Harefield: Wooden Plaque to Harefield HWM 012 Men of Harefield St. Mary’s Churchyard, Church Hill, Harefield: Australian Harefield HWM 013b Military Cemetery Gate St. Mary’s Churchyard, Church Hill, Harefield: Australian Harefield HWM 013a Military Cemetery Obelisk Harlington War Memorial, Church of St. Peter and St.Paul, St. HWM 040 Peter’s Way, Harlington Villages Heathrow RCAF Memorial, Moor Lane, Harmondsworth Moor HWM 097 Villages St. Dunstan’s Church, Roseville Rd., Cranford: Window and Heathrow HWM 094 Tablet Villages St. Mary the Virgin Church, High St, Harmondsworth, West Heathrow HWM 062 Drayton: wooden panelling Villages St. Mary the Virgin Church, High St, Harmondsworth, West Heathrow HWM 061 Drayton: shield Villages Ickenham United Reformed Church, Swakeleys Rd. Ickenham HWM 047 Ickenham: Brass Plaques St. Giles Church, Swakeleys Rd. Ickenham: Book of Ickenham HWM 104 Remembrance St. Giles Church, Swakeleys Rd. Ickenham: Tablet Ickenham HWM 102 St. Giles Church, Swakeleys Rd. Ickenham: Plaque & Altar Ickenham HWM 103 Rail St. Giles Church, Swakeleys Rd., Ickenham: Stained Glass Ickenham HWM 105 Windows to Middlesex Regiment and Home Guard Emmanuel Church, High St, Northwood: Plaque to Coastal Northwood HWM 098 Command Emmanuel Church, High St. Northwood: Tablets under East Northwood HWM 031 Window Emmanuel church, High St, Northwood: Plaque to Irish Northwood HWM 034 Guards Emmanuel Church, High St., Northwood: Roll of Honour Northwood HWM 032 Holy Trinity Church, Gateway Close, Northwood: Wooden Northwood HWM 023 Plaque Holy Trinity Church, Gateway Close, Northwood: Elaborate Northwood HWM 025 Wooden Plaque Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Ave. Northwood: War Northwood HWM 096 Memorial Northwood Post Office, Pinner Road Northwood: Plaque Northwood HWM 045 Northwood War Memorial, Green Lane, Northwood Northwood HWM 008 St. Johns’ UR Church, Hallowell Rd., Northwood: Tablet Northwood HWM 017 Church of St. Edmund the King, Pinner Rd. Northwood Hills: Northwood HWM 018 SS Aguila Memorial Hills Northwood & Pinner Community Hospital, Pinner Rd., Northwood HWM 046 Northwood Hills The Gramophone Company, Cherry Lane Cemetery, Pinkwell HWM 035 Shepiston Lane, Harlington: Memorial Stone Polish War Memorial, West End Rd., Ruislip HWM 003 Hayes War Memorial, Church Rd., Hayes Townfield HWM 005 Christ Church, Redford Way, Belmont Rd., Uxbridge: Book of Uxbridge HWM 089 Remembrance North

RAF Uxbridge, Hillingdon Rd., Uxbridge: Obelisk to No.11 Uxbridge HWM 078 Fighter Group North Uxbridge Cricket Club, Gatting Way, Park Rd., Uxbridge: Uxbridge HWM 074 Wooden Plaque North Uxbridge NatWest Bank, 48-49 High St., Uxbridge: Bronze plaque HWM 084 South St. Andrews Church, Hillingdon Rd., Uxbridge: St.John’s Uxbridge Shrine from Church of St. John the Evangelist, Uxbridge HWM 073 South Moor St. Andrews Church, Hillingdon Rd., Uxbridge: Roll of Honour Uxbridge HWM 087 from St. Peter’s Mission Church, The Greenway, Uxbridge South St. Margaret’s Church, Windsor St., Uxbridge: Reredos Uxbridge HWM 072 Screen South Uxbridge Library, High St., Uxbridge: Plaque to staff of Uxbridge HWM 100 Uxbridge District Council (in Archives) South Uxbridge Library, High St., Uxbridge: Wooden Panel from Uxbridge HWM 106 Wesleyan Chapel South Uxbridge War Memorial, The Old Graveyard, Windsor St., Uxbridge HWM 006 Uxbridge South War Memorial, West Drayton Cemetery, West Drayton HWM 095 Harmondsworth Rd., West Drayton ‘The Church’ (formerly a Methodist Church), Ducks Hill Rd., West Ruislip HWM 028 Ruislip Common: Tablet NatWest Bank, 63 High St., Ruislip: Bronze Plaque West Ruislip HWM 083 The Orchard, Ickenham Rd., Ruislip: Orchard Spitfire on West Ruislip HWM 027 Stone Base St. Martin of Tours Church, Eastcote Rd., Ruislip: Board West Ruislip HWM 076 St. Martin of Tours Church, Eastcote Rd., ,Ruislip: Tablet West Ruislip HWM 077 St. Martin of Tours Church, Eastcote Rd., Ruislip: Triptych West Ruislip HWM 075

Youth of Ruislip Open Air Chapel, The Willow Tree Centre, West Ruislip HWM 029 Breakspear Rd. North, Harefield

Yiewsley War Memorial, St. Matthews Church, High St., HWM 001 Yiewsley