Chatham Naval War Memorial

War memorial overlooking Chatham, approached by a steep path from the Town Hall Gardens. The memorial was unveiled in 1924, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer with sculpture by Henry Poole. A Second World War extension, unveiled in 1952, was designed by Sir Edward Maufe, with sculpture by William McMillan and Charles Wheeler. The materials are Portland stone ashlar, with a large copper sphere and bronze plaques.

The memorial takes the form of a massive stone obelisk rising from a stepped square base with corner projections, each supporting a lion couchant. Four ships' prows project from the apex, inspired by the rostral columns erected to celebrate Roman naval victories. The apex of the obelisk is stepped inwards; above the branching ships' prows are bronze figures representing the four winds, who bear a large copper sphere representing the earth. Low down on each side of the obelisk is the naval badge of an anchor within a laurel wreath, surmounted by a naval crown.

Between the lions are bronze plaques. The plaque to the south bears the inscription: "IN HONOUR OF THE NAVY / AND TO THE ABIDING MEMORY / OF THESE RANKS AND / RATINGS OF THIS PORT WHO LAID DOWN THEIR / LIVES IN THE DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE AND / HAVE NO OTHER GRAVE THAN THE SEA / AND THEIR COMRADES OF AUSTRALIA / SOUTH AFRICA NEWFOUNDLAND INDIA PAKISTAN / CEYLON FIJI GOLD COAST HONG KONG KENYA / MALAYA NIGERIA SIERRA LEONE AND BURMA / WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE RECORDED". The plaques to the other faces commemorate actions with enemy land forces, single ship actions, and general actions at sea including Jutland; these plaques contain images of naval action in low relief. Around the base are plaques carrying the names of the dead, arranged by year of death and within each year by rank and role.

The Second World War extension takes the form of an exedra or small garden area enclosed by quadrant walls, enclosing the obelisk to the landward eastern side. A low wall to the west closes the space with a wide opening. The outer faces of the walls are punctuated by pilaster strips; inside, they are lined with bronze plaques bearing the names of those lost during the Second World War. The entrance to the enclosure to the east is marked by piers topped by flaming urns; wrought iron gates incorporate a wave-scroll pattern. A band at the top of the gates bears the inscription "ALL THESE WERE HONOURED IN THEIR GENERATIONS / AND WERE THE GLORY OF THEIR TIMES", above which is a gilded naval crown. Flanking the gates inside the enclosure are sculptural figures depicting two sailors on watch: a Royal Marine and a member of the maritime regiment of the Royal Artillery, both wearing duffel coats and holding binoculars.

At the ends of the walls to north and south are long shelters set on a west/east axis, with copper barrel-vaulted roofs; the shelters have Ionic columned openings to the enclosure. The back and end walls have windows with stone architraves and pronounced keystones. To the east of each shelter, at the end of the curved walls, stands another sailor. Stone paving leads to the eastern entrance and forms wide paths within the enclosure.