Plaque: St Barnabas war memorial
War Memorial
{On the scroll beneath the feet of St George and his dragon:}
Tribute
{On a plaque below:}
to the men of this parish who gave their lives for freedom, 1914 - 1919.
This is a very unusual memorial to be found on the outside of a church - lovely art nouveauish design, a vanquished dragon, and rich blue mosaic for the sky. We've been unable to discover the artist.
The local list gives "... Portland Stone panel with a carving featuring St George and the slain dragon. The background is picked out in blue mosaic."
Site: St Barnabas war memorial (1 memorial)
E3, Grove Road, St Barnabas Bethnal Green
Ornamental passions has reported on this 1865 church, but oddly they show no interest in this war memorial. There we learn that the church was badly damaged in WW2 but reconstructed and in about 1957 the large white cross was added with the symbols of the four Evangelists, carved by Donald Potter.
The unusually decorative war memorial is at eye level. Perhaps it was originally inside and got moved outside during the reconstruction.
