We will remember them
{On the left side:}
St Peter's Bethnal Green 1914 - 1918
{a list of 83 names, most with the date of death, age at death and rank.}
At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
{On the right side:}
St Thomas Bethnal Green 1914 - 1918
{a list of 90 names, most with the date of death, age at death and rank.}
We were pleased to find a website, St Peters Bethnal Green, that has already listed these people and provided lots of research, and we direct you there for more information about these men. It was there we found the middle names and some additional dates of death. Where the information there differs from the information on the plaque we have used the latter.
Site: St Peter’s Church Hall (2 memorials)
E2, Warner Place, 52, St Peter’s Church Hall
We visited on a Sunday and there was a religious service taking place. But Serviced Office Portal has this address advertised as "Located in Bethnal Green, in a church hall, which has been converted into a multi-use co-working space." The photos there show a large panelled room with an arched roof. Perhaps the office space is on the first floor and the ground floor still has a religious function.
In our photo the foundation stone is to the left of the umbrella. The war memorial is the large white panel framing the pedestrian's head.
St Peters church Bethnal Green is the one close to this plaque.
LMA's page for St Thomas church gives the address as Baroness Road: "The church of Saint Thomas was constructed in 1848, designed by Lewis Vulliamy. The building was financed by William Cotton as a memorial to his son. In 1844 a parish was assigned from part of the parish of Saint Matthew. The church was damaged during the Second World War and demolished. The parish was united with Saint Peter's."
This 1895 map shows that Baroness Road had only one church, and it is indeed labelled St Thomas's. However we thought that was built as part of the 1859 Columbia Market development and that the architect was Henry Darbishire. Seems we were mistaken.
