Memorials St Alfege's Church Greenwich

Within St Alfege's Church are memorial to The Boer War, WW1 and WW2.

"THE QUEEN'S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT "QUO FAS AT GLORIA DUCUNT". "2ND VOLUNTEER BATTALION. TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ THIS TABLET HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THEIR COMRADES OF THE/ 2ND VOLUNTEER BATTALION/ THE QUEEN'S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT/ SINCE THE INAUGURATION OF THE VOLUNTEER/ MOVEMENT IN 1859, THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR/ 1899 - 1902 WAS THE FIRST OCCASION ON WHICH/ THE GOVERNMENT INVITED THE FORCE TO FURNISH/ VOLUNTEER COMPANIES FOR ACTIVE SERVICE ABROAD/ TO THIS CALL 191 MEMBERS OF THIS BATTALION/ RESPONDED AND EMBARKED FOR THE FRONT/ "ENDURE HARDNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER". II TIM.II.3. OCTOBER 1903"
9 names are listed.
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"In memory of
2nd Lt Robert Harry Groves M.C.
1st Battn 3rd London Regt R. Fusiliers
Eldest son of Harry and Ellen Groves of this Parish
Born June 1st 1895, Died April 12th 1917,
of wounds received whilst leading his company
at the Battle of Arras.
Buried at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery
Saulty, France.
Fighting for God and Right and Liberty
and such a death is immortality"
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Tribute to the sacred memory of
Major Conrad H. Dinwiddy, R.G.A.
Fifth son of Eliza & Thomas Dinwiddy F.R.I.B.A., F.S.I
Born in Greenwich, Fell in france 28thSep 1917.
Aged 36
in his Country's need he forsook home & brilliant
prospects, invented 'The Dinwiddy' Rangefinder & a slide rule for field firing.
He gave his heart to his home, his soul to his God
and his life to his country."
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"To the Glory of God, in memory
of parishioners and members of the
congregation of St Alfege Greenwich
who died for their Country in the
Great War 1914-1918
or in the expeditions of 1919 and 1920"
The two plaques contains 169 names.
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"In memory
of
the fallen of the
1st & 2nd/5th London
Field Ambulance
T.F.
who died for
freedom & honour
1914-1918
'In Arduis Fidelis'"
50 names are detailed.
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"Then came the Second World War.
On 19th March 1941, bombs hit the roof of at Alfege Church, which then caught fire and collapsed, causing huge amounts of damage. Up to 40 families had been sheltering under the church in the crypt, to escape the nightly attacks, and all had to be evacuated.
The old pulpit, from which the sermons were read, was destroyed. Much of the beautiful interior by Hawksmoor was also damaged. However, some parts survived, including the wooden pillars behind the altar, as well as those separating the entrance lobby from the main area where the congregation sit, called the nave.
After the bombing, the local community still came for services in a small corner of the church, which had been given a temporary roof. This became known as the church within the church, where baptisms and weddings still took place.

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries + Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward