Remembrance Sunday is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served their country, and in Havering, this day is marked with various ceremonies and memorial unveilings. Looking back at the history of war memorials and Armistice Day services in the area gives us a glimpse into the past and the community’s efforts to remember the fallen.
One significant event captured in photos is the Armistice announcement on November 11, 1918, in Romford. The streets were filled with cheering crowds celebrating peace despite the rain. A thanksgiving meeting at Market Plain followed by special services at St Edward’s Church expressed both joy for the war’s end and sorrow for the lives lost.
In addition to the main civic war memorials, smaller memorials like the Noak Hill Victory Hut were dedicated to honor the residents who served or died in World War I. Lady Dorina Neave led the Victory Hut opening ceremony in 1919, featuring a fete, sports, and a flower show. The hut, destroyed by a V2 rocket in 1945, was later rebuilt, and Lady Neave returned in 1949 to repeat the dedication ceremony.
The unveiling of the Rainham War Memorial in 1920 drew a huge crowd to honor the 61 men from Rainham who lost their lives in the war. Designed by H.A. Porter and funded by residents, the war memorial clock tower stands as a prominent tribute to the fallen.
Similarly, the Upminster War Memorial, unveiled in May 1921, features a Celtic cross and a large stone base inscribed with the names of 66 parishioners who made the ultimate sacrifice. The unveiling ceremony was attended by a large crowd, including officials, scouts, ex-servicemen, and families of the fallen, who placed flowers at the monument’s base.
One of the last Remembrance services at Romford War Memorial in Laurie Square took place in the late 1960s before it was moved to Coronation Gardens due to the construction of the ring road. The community’s efforts to honor and remember those who served their country are evident in these ceremonies and memorial unveilings throughout the years in Havering.
