Croydon War Memorial

The Croydon War Memorial is a significant structure dedicated to those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, erected in 1921 by James Burford and Paul Montford.

This memorial features a 9-meter high pylon made of Portland stone, topped with a sarcophagus. At the pinnacle of the pylon is a bronze cross, which is flanked by the dates 1914 and 1918, with the additional dates 1939 and 1945 added later. The pylon bears the inscription: "AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN / WARS AND CONFLICTS SINCE." The base of the pylon is inscribed: "A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN / AND WOMEN OF CROYDON / WHO DIED AND SUFFERED." The pylon and the bronze statuary are positioned on a pedestal.

On the left side of the memorial, the statue represents a soldier from the East Surrey Regiment, depicted as he dresses a wound on his own arm. He is seated on his greatcoat, with his rifle behind him and a Mills bomb at his feet. His water bottle rests in his lap, and his puttees are wrapped in sacking. The soldier is without a helmet and has a field dressing around his head.

The right statue portrays a woman in civilian attire, holding a child on her lap. She is also seated on a coat, with her right arm extended towards the soldier while clutching a letter. Her face is turned towards the soldier, and her closed eyes suggest a deep connection between them. A visible wedding ring on her hand implies that the three figures represent a family. The base of the female figure is signed by both the sculptor and the founder.

The memorial is integrated into the balustrade of the Town Hall.