War Memorials – Ancient Order of Foresters

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On Whit Sunday, 15 May 1921 a handsome plaque, commemorating the fourteen members of the Ancient Order of Foresters who had lost their lives in the Great War, was unveiled at their headquarters on the corner of Waterloo Road and the Station Approach, Epsom. (This had been built in 1863 as a Wesleyan chapel, and was demolished in the 1970s.)

Foresters’ Hall  in July 1971
Image courtesy of Epsom & Ewell Local And Family History Centre 

A local newspaper printed the following:

In the large room has been erected the memorial, which is a large brass plaque, on oak, bearing the names of the following, who made the great sacrifice:–
Frank Atkins, J.H. Baldwin, H. Beaton, Frank Down, G.R. Fox, F. Gorey, H. Gorey, T. Hankins, J.A. Oldridge, F. Plume, A.H. Sargent, W.P Scott, G.H.G. Tomsett, W.G. Tye.

[clicking on a name will lead to details of his life and WW1 service.]

Above the names is the Foresters’ crest, a stag’s head and crown, and the following:–
“A.O.F., Court Wellington, No. 3449. — In honoured memory of our brothers who laid down their lives in the Great war, 1914-1918.” Under the names is “Lest we forget.”

The lettering on the board is black and red, and there is a scroll border. The memorial is excellent in design and workmanship, and the members of Court Wellington are very pleased with it as a tangible expression of their feelings towards their late members, and the desire to perpetuate their memory. The cost of the memorial, the work of Messrs. Hammond and Hussey, Croydon, has been met by subscriptions by the members.

The plaque can be seen on the right hand side of this picture of people enjoying a
fancy dress dance in the Foresters’ Hall on 3 May 1934.
Image courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum

Unfortunately the plaque cannot now be located and was probably lost when Foresters’ Hall was demolished in the 1970s.

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