War Memorials Elsewhere, - Ilford (Redbridge), - War Memorial Hall

The Ilford War Memorial Hall
Photo : © Copyright Nigel Cox and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Ilford War Memorial Hall records the names of 1,159 Ilford men killed in the 1914-1918 War. Inside the building are a number of plaques arranged round the circumference, on which the names of those commemorated are inscribed.

A description of the memorial, together with a list of some of the names, can be found on the website Redbridge and the First World War.
All 1159 names of those who lost their lives, and are commmeorated in this memorial, is given in the Ilford War Memorial Gazette.

Outside the hall is an information board erected by the London Borough of Redbridge which provides information regarding the hall itself. A transcription of this information is shown below.

Amongst the names commemorated on the memorial are those of 5 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

Lance Corporal William Collingwood Betts, 40553. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 31676 D L I. Killed 27 August 1917.
Born Barkingside (Essex), Enlisted Ilford.
Commemorated on Panel 52 to 54 and 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private George William Brand, 41191. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Charles and Susan Brand, of 52, Netley Rd., Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex. Killed 20 September 1917. Aged 32.
Born Homeron, Enlisted Ilford (Essex).
Commemorated on Panel 52 to 54 and 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private Horace Dumbrill. 35136. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 35038 9th T R Battalion. Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Dumbrill. Died 12 April 1918. Aged 18.
Born Hackney (London), Enlisted Ilford (Essex).
Commemorated on Panel 4, PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL.

Private Charles Ernest Elkins. 33512. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 32038 11th Reserve Hussars Regt. Son of Alfred Charles and Elizabeth Elkins, of 19, Pyrmont Rd., Ilford, Essex. Killed 17 January 1917. Aged 18.
Born Edmonton (Mddx), Enlisted Woolwich, Resided Ilford (Essex).
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3A & 3D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

Private James Reginald Walker. 35274. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 34695 9th T R Battn. Son of James and Lily Walker, of 150, Horns Rd., Ilford, Essex. Born at Walthamstow, London. Killed 26 April 1918. Aged 18.
Born Walthamstow (Essex), Enlisted Uxbridge, Resided Hayes.
Buried COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY.
(Shown in the Ilford war Memorial Gazette as "Reginald Walker".)

General View of the Interior of the Redbridge War Memorial Hall.
Photo : Redbridge and the First World War

The names of L/Cpl Betts and Private Brand in the Ilford War Memorial Hall	The names of Privates Dumbrill & Elkins in the Ilford War Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall was opened on 25 June 1927 by Lady Patricia Ramsay (formerly H.R.H. Princess Patricia of Connaught). It was intended to serve both as a memorial and as the entrance hall to the new Children's Ward - known as the Walter Stevens Wing - of what was then the Ilford Emergency Hospital, later to become the King George V Hospital.

The Children's Ward (since demolished), the Memorial Hall, the Memorial Gardens and the Memorial Monument at the entrance to the gardens were paid for by money raised from donations to the Ilford War Memorial Fund.

Despite the original intention, the Memorial Hall was never used as the entrance to the Children's Hospital and, when the hospital closed in 1993, few people knew about the Memorial. However the historic significance of the building was recognised, and a case was successfully made in 1995 for the Memorial Hall and the Memorial Monument to be added to the statutory list of buildings of architectural or historic interest (Grade II). The building was restored as part of a planning agreement between the London Borough of Redbridge and the developers of the adjoining hospital site. The Council is now responsible for its upkeep.

For reasons of security, it is not possible to allow unsupervised access to the Memorial Hall but it is open on Remembrance Day and at other times of year. It is also possible to obtain access at other times by appointment."

The building, which is octagonal in plan, was designed by the architects C J Dawson & Allardyce.

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