Kingswood and Tadworth War Memorial

The Kingswood and Tadworth War Memorial is a First World War memorial designed by Frederick Bligh Bond and unveiled in 1920, with the names of those who fell in the Second World War added later.

Constructed from Doulting limestone, the memorial is located in the open space to the west of St Andrew's churchyard. It features a Celtic cross with carved strap work decoration. The tapering, square-section shaft is mounted on an octagonal tapering plinth, which has a three-tier octagonal base that is later topped with stone slabs. The shaft displays a carved symbol of two birds eating from the Tree of Life, symbolizing the immortality of the soul. The front of the plinth is dedicated with the inscription ‘1914-1918/ IN LASTING MEMORY OF THOSE WHO/ FOUGHT & DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY’. The names of 60 fallen soldiers from the First World War are inscribed on the other three principal sides of the plinth, with the side faces labeled ‘KINGSWOOD’ and ‘TADWORTH’. The rear face bears the inscription ‘WE SHALL SERVE OUR GENERATIONS./ OUR REST WE EXPECT ELSEWHERE:/ THAT WILL BE DURABLE.’

On the front face of the top tier of the base, the inscription reads: ‘1939-1945/ IN LASTING MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY’, along with the names of 62 fallen soldiers from the Second World War inscribed on the front faces of the upper two tiers.

At the rear of the memorial, there is a small paved area with a central stone that bears the inscription: ‘IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THE/ PRINCESS LOUISE FUSILIERS/ & 48TH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA/ WHO WERE STATIONED LOCALLY/ AND GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR OUR FREEDOM/ 1939-1945’.