Memorial details

Memorial type
Sculptured / Cast group
District
City Of London
Town
Temple
County
Greater London
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 15 December 1922
    Attended by: Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair KCB
  • Dedicated
    Date: 15 December 1922
    Attended by: Archdeacon C Ingles, Chaplain of the Fleet
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
11601

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Current location

On wall of Embankment by Temple Steps near Blackfriars Bridge
River Wall
Victoria Embankment
Temple
City Of London
Greater London
EC4Y 0HA
England

OS Grid Ref: TQ 31198 80796
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Bronze relief panelling depicting four naval figures in the interior of a submarine contending against the inimical influences of the ocean, represented by figures attempting to trap it in a net. On the left is a plaque listing the submarines lost in 1914-1918 and on the right is a list of submarines lost from 1939 to 1945. To the left and right of the plaques are female figures representing Truth, and a blindfolded Justice. Under the centre panel is an oblong plaque showing a submarine cruising on the surface of the sea. Ornamental border includes the badge of the Royal Navy, some dolphins and the prows of boats.
Inscription
ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE BRITISH NAVY/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN SUBMARINES 1914-1918 & 1939-1945. Below plaque: 1914-1918 1939-1945 Additional plaque: NATIONAL SUBMARINE WAR MEMORIAL (1922)/ THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE MEMORIAL'S/ SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND THE CONTRIBUTION/ BY THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBMARINERS' OLD/ COMRADES, LONDON, IN THEIR DEVOTION TO/ THE UPKEEEP OF THIS MEMORIAL. UNVEILED BY/ PETER P. RIGBY, C.B.E .J.P.1st NOVEMBER, 1992.
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Panelling
    Measurements: depth 5 in, height 8 ft, width 13 ft
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • The National Submariners' War Memorial, attached to the Embankment Wall
  • Grade II*
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
Original dates at top of inscription were 'August 1914- November 1918', with two panels for the names of of c fifty lost submarines. Conserved by Rupert Harris Conservation in 2002, and maintained annually by them (e-mail 7 Oct. 2011)
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
City of London Corporation
Reference

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-11601

For queries, please contact [email protected].