East London Cemetery Company War Memorial

The East London Cemetery Company War Memorial is a First World War memorial built in 1917, located within the East London Cemetery, north of the Grange Road entrance along the central path.

The memorial is made of rough-hewn stone and features a wheel-head cross on top of a tall, four-sided pillar that sits on a two-tiered, tapering stone block base. The pillar is composed of three stone blocks with smooth, inset panels that display inscriptions in leaded lettering on all four sides.

The main inscription is on the south face of the pillar, which reads: "TO THE MEMORY OF THE SONS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FREEDOM AND HONOUR IN THE WAR OF 1914 – 1918. 'REST ETERNAL GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON THEM.'" Below this, on the upper tier of the base, there is a metal casting of a crossed rifle and sword with a soldier’s cap above, painted green.

On the west face of the pillar, the inscription states: "IN SYMPATHY WITH THE ORPHAN THE WIDOW THE SONLESS PARENT 'GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES.'"

The north face of the pillar commemorates the alliance of nations involved in the war, with the inscription: "TO COMMEMORATE THE RIGHTEOUS ALLIANCE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE FRANCE RUSSIA JAPAN BELGIUM SERBIA ITALY MONTENEGRO ROUMANIA PORTUGAL U. S. AMERICA 'HONOUR ABOVE ALL.'" Below this, there is a ship’s anchor and chain, also cast in metal and painted green.

On the east face of the pillar, the inscription reads: "IN GRATITUDE TO OUR MAIMED AND BROKEN HEROES BY WHOSE ANGUISH WE HAVE PEACE. 'DEEDS NOT WORDS.'" Below this inscription, there is a bronze plaque stating: "THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED BY THE DIRECTORS OF THE EAST LONDON CEMETERY CO. LD. 22ND FEBRUARY 1917."