Dartford War Memorial

Dartford War Memorial

War memorial erected in 1922 by sculptor Arthur G Walker and founder A.B. Burton of Thames Ditton, designed to commemorate the First World War. Later modified to include dedications to the fallen of the Second World War (1939-45) and the Korean War (1950-53).

The memorial consists of a stepped granite pedestal on a granite base, surmounted by a bronze statue of a British Tommy. The figure faces towards Dartford Public Library to the east.

The pedestal comprises three unequal sections, each decorated differently. The lowest plinth bears rectangular bronze plaques on its north, east and south elevations, reading: 'To all who gave their lives for our freedom'; 'To our dead of the Second World War 1939-1945'; and 'To all who died in the Korean War 1950-53'. The central section, or die, is inscribed on all sides with the names of over 300 fallen men. It features inset figurative bronze plaques on the north and south elevations: a naval heavy gun with gun crew to the north, and a biplane with observers to the south. The upper section, or surbase, is inscribed on all sides with commemorative verses. The principal east-facing elevation reads: 'In grateful memory of the gallant sons of this town, who fell in the fight for freedom 1914-1919.' The remaining three sides bear the inscriptions: 'Splendid you passed, the great surrender made, into the light that nevermore shall fade'; 'All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave to save mankind - yourselves you scorned to save'; and 'Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved your memory hallowed in the land you loved.'

The bronze statue depicts a British soldier in full battle dress, wearing a backpack with additional kit slung from his belt. He stands at ease with both hands resting on the muzzle of his rifle. His face is gaunt with a calm, distant expression. The bronze base is signed by the sculptor on its south elevation and inscribed 'A.B. Burton Founder Thames Ditton' on the north.

Arthur Walker (1861-1939) was a sculptor, painter and Fellow of the Royal Academy, best known for his statue of Florence Nightingale in Waterloo Place, London, and a First World War memorial in Derby. Dartford's War Memorial Committee selected Walker after visiting and admiring his memorial in Sevenoaks, which features the same British Tommy statue. Walker sketched his design from life, using a soldier recently returned from Flanders as his model, with whom he corresponded after the soldier returned to the trenches. According to Walker, the man survived to see photographs of the finished statue. The same Tommy design, with minor modifications, was also used for memorials at Heston, Greater London (1918) and Sevenoaks, Kent.

The memorial remains the focal point for Dartford's Armistice Day commemorations.