Monument | War dead | WW1

Baker Street war memorial

Inscription

The men from the service of the Metropolitan Railway Company whose names are inscribed below were among those who, at the call of King and country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.
Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten.
{Below are 2 columns of 68 names each, in alphabetic sequence, with one more at the end in the centre. See the Subjects Commemorated for the names. 'Arthur Lewis' does appear twice. Following the list is:}
1914 - 1918
Erected by the directors, officers and staff of the railway.

Made of Carrara marble. The list of names is contained within an arch composed of fluted Ionic columns supporting an allegorical statue group depicting a lion overcoming a serpent. It was designed by C.W. Clark and unveiled by Sir Clarendon Hyde, the deputy chairman, on 11 November 1920.

2019: Via Facebook Keith Scholey told us that the London Metropolitan Archives hold a Roll of Honour which gives the full name, occupation, rank and regiment, and date of death of all these men. Many thanks Keith.

Site: Baker Street war memorial (2 memorials)

NW1, Baker Street Station

This site can be found at the east bound Circle Line platform. To the right of the monument there is an unusual charity collecting box made of a war-time shell. There is a slot for coins in the top and a brass shield on the front, inscribed: "12 inch high explosive shell, presented by Messrs Vicers Ltd, Barrrow Works. Donations to the Railway Benevolent Institution for Disabled & Distressed Railwaymen, Widows & Orphans."

We thank our colleague Alan Patient for spotting the red plaque in 2018 and sending us the photos. Note that, prior to the arrival of this plaque, the white wall used to be terracotta tiles but was presumably painted so that the red plaque would stand out.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Baker Street war memorial

Subjects commemorated i

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came a...

Read More

Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Pa...

Read More

Show all 139

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Baker Street war memorial

Created by i

Metropolitan Railway Company

This was the world's first underground passenger railway which opened from Pa...

Read More

Charles Walter Clark

Architect. Chief architect for the Metropolitan Railway Company, designing 25...

Read More

Sir Clarendon Hyde

Sir Clarendon Hyde, the deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Railway Company i...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Baker Street war memorial

Also at this site i

First underground railway - red plaque

First underground railway - red plaque

Metropolitan Railway The world's first underground railway opened from Paddin...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Church WW1 Memorial

Church WW1 Memorial

E8, Kingsland Road

Very sad - a stump of a memorial that is also weathered into illegibility.

1 subject commemorated
St Barnabas Woodford Green war memorial

St Barnabas Woodford Green war memorial

IG8, Snakes Lane East, St Barnabas Church

In the inscription "they gave their lives" is given as a quotation but its source is not obvious. When we visited, in addition to a few ...

War dead | WW1
61 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Lynch Green Martyrs

Lynch Green Martyrs

UB8, Windsor Street, St Margaret's Burial Ground

This stone was erected in 1955 in memory of Robert Smith, John Denley & Patrick Packingham, who were burnt at the stake on Lynch Gree...

4 subjects commemorated
Sir Arthur Sullivan

Sir Arthur Sullivan

WC2, Victoria Embankment Gardens

Leaning against the pedestal there is a crying woman. The guitar, score and mask of Pan indicate that she represents Music, and isn't jus...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
St Bartholomew's Hospital - Sir William Wallace

St Bartholomew's Hospital - Sir William Wallace

EC1, West Smithfield, St Bartholomew's Hospital

2019: Scott Kelly informed us of the work he and his colleagues do, looking after this monument. It's a splendid memorial and we thank th...

1 subject commemorated