Willesden Liberal Jewish Cemetery War Memorial

Anglo-Jewish war memorial of the cenotaph type.

MATERIALS: Portland stone with bronze plaques.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a rectangular Portland stone stele raised on a two-stepped plinth. The summit slopes inward over three further steps, and supports a stone bowl and flame, representing eternal life. The principal, south, elevation bears three bronze plaques with inscriptions. The uppermost plaque is a circular wreath with commemorative text inside, which reads: THIS STONE/ WAS SET UP/ BY THE MEMBERS OF THE/ LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE IN/ REVERENT MEMORY/ OF THE TWENTY TWO VALIANT AND/ FAITHFUL ISRAELITES WHO IN/ THE GREAT WAR GAVE THEIR/ LIVES AT THE CALL OF THEIR/ COUNTRY AND FOR THE/ SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS/ LIBERTY AND HONOUR. Below this, a rectangular plaque bears the names, ranks and regiments of the fallen from the First World War. Between the two plaques is a Hebrew inscription of a prayer which translates as BLESSED ARE YOU, LORD, WHO RAISES THE DEAD.

Following the Second World War, a rectangular plaque was added to the upper step of the plinth, which reads: THIS INSCRIPTION WAS ADDED TO HONOUR/ THE MEMORY OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE/ LIBERAL JEWISH SYNAGOGUE WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR THE SAME HIGH CAUSES DURING/ THE SECOND WORLD WAR. The east and west faces display carvings of Jewish menorah candles within wreaths. The northern face is inscribed with the date 1914-1919 and 1930-1945 below.