The National Submariners' War Memorial, attached to the Embankment Wall

The memorial is located at Temple Pier, in close proximity to a number of listed structures and opposite the Grade II-registered grounds of Middle Temple and Inner Temple. The memorial consists of a monumental stepped granite pier carrying a large bronze plaque comprising a bas-relief underwater scene set within an architectural frame. The centerpiece of the bas-relief depicts the cross section of a submarine control room with the Captain to the fore beneath the periscope. Around the vessel is a host of mythical sea spirits or mermen tugging at the nets which are ensnaring it. The cornice is crowned by an escutcheon resembling the Submarine Service ‘Dolphin’ badge; at each end are ships’ prows clasped by putti. The base has a relief of a submarine cruising on the surface of the sea and the dates 1914 and 1918.

The pilasters contain the lists of 50 submarines lost in the First World War (left) and 82 in the Second World War (right); the capitals are embellished with the Royal Navy insignia and the bases with laurel wreaths. The frieze has relief lettering reading ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE BRITISH NAVY/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES SERVING IN SUBMARINES 1914-1918 AND 1939-1945 (the last part of the inscription originally read AUGUST 1914 – NOVEMBER 1918). Attached to the sides of the plaque are the allegorical female figures of Truth and Justice supported on miniature pedestals with dolphin consoles.

Below, a second plaque, surmounted by a precise rendition of the Submarine Service badge, reads NATIONAL SUBMARINE WAR MEMORIAL (1922) / THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE MEMORIAL'S / SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND THE CONTRIBUTION / BY THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBMARINERS OLD COMRADES, LONDON, IN THEIR DEVOTION TO / THE UPKEEP OF THIS MEMORIAL, UNVEILED BY / PETER P RIGBY CBE JP.

Fixed to the wall to either side are 40 bronze wreath-hooks in the form of anchors, which are a distinctive feature of the memorial.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 10 February 2017.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 12 May 2022 to reword a sentence in description.