Surbiton War Memorial

The Surbiton War Memorial is a stone monument erected in a memorial garden on Ewell Road. Dating from the early 20th century, it commemorates those from the district who died in the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945). The memorial consists of a tall cross with a moulded foot, mounted on a tapering octagonal shaft, which in turn stands on an octagonal plinth. The plinth sits on a three-stepped base. An octagonal pavement surrounds the base, marked to the front by two low bollards, formerly holding stone urns. A low railing originally delineated the garden from the pavement but has been replaced by a hedge.

The principal dedication, on the front face of the plinth, reads: THE / URBAN DISTRICT OF / SURBITON / WAR MEMORIAL. / IN HONOURED MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THIS / DISTRICT WHO DIED FOR / THEIR COUNTRY IN THE / GREAT WAR 1914-1918. / AND THAT OF 1939-1945. / “LEST WE FORGET.” Commemorated names are inscribed on the remaining faces of the plinth.

A bronze plaque, dedicated to those who died during the Second World War, is located on the top step of the base and reads: THIS MEMORIAL GARDEN WAS EXTENDED / IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN / WORLD WAR II AND WHOSE NAMES ARE / INSCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE / LODGED IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY / 11TH NOVEMBER 1952. Small stone vases are located on the stepped base.

Behind the main memorial, a cairn constructed from stones from the Church of St Mark, bearing a commemorative plaque, stands at the rear boundary. The plaque reads: THIS CAIRN IS OF STONE / FROM THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARK / WHICH WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY BOMBING / ON THE NIGHT OF 2ND OCTOBER 1940. Two brick walls flank the memorial, each carrying a large steel plaque inscribed IN COMMEMORATION OF / WORLD WAR II / 1939 – 1945 / (NAMES) / WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. A more recent stone plinth and tablet commemorating Douglas Belcher VC has been added to the right of the memorial cross within a small lawn. Garden benches are positioned at either end of the path running across the middle of the garden. These subsidiary features are not included in this listing.