Deptford’s Fallen: Remembering Those Who Served in the First World War
The Brockley & Ladywell Memorial commemorates 165 men from Deptford lost in the Great War.
The Brockley & Ladywell War Memorial: A Lasting Tribute
On a quiet stretch of Brockley Grove, the Brockley & Ladywell War Memorial stands as a poignant and enduring reminder of Deptford’s sacrifice during the First World War. Carved into its screen walls and tablets are the names of 165 servicemen who lost their lives between 1914 and 1918 — sons, brothers, neighbours, and friends whose absence left an indelible mark on the community.
Deptford, a working-class district with strong ties to the
docks and river, saw many of its young men enlist in the army, navy, and
emerging service branches. The memorial’s panels record their names, acting
both as a communal ledger of loss and a place for reflection. Although ages at
death are not consistently recorded in publicly accessible sources, each name
represents a life interrupted and a future left unrealised. The memorial serves
to remind us that these men were individuals, not merely numbers.
The Brockley & Ladywell Memorial is more than a list of
names. It provides a tangible link between past and present, connecting modern
visitors to the families, streets, and workplaces of Deptford from a century
ago. Through research into the names, insight can be gained into the lives,
regiments, and service histories of local men, helping to preserve their
stories for future generations. By visiting, photographing, and documenting
these panels, we ensure that Deptford’s contribution to the First World War
will always be remembered.
A short dedication.
We remember the men of Deptford not as statistics, but as neighbours, co-workers, and friends. Each name on the memorials connects us to a life lived, a family affected, and a community shaped by sacrifice. Let us pause, reflect, and ensure that their memory endures.
A Personal Pilgrimage to Tyne Cot Cemetery
Visiting Tyne Cot Cemetery is a humbling experience. Among thousands of headstones, each representing a life given in courage and sacrifice, I had a personal quest: to find a grave that shared my initials and surname.
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| AARON WHITE |
I found it—a headstone with my initial and surname—and standing there, I felt an unexpected connection across time, a bond with a soldier I will never meet on this earth but whose bravery and presence resonates with me deeply.
In that moment, I wrote this poem:
I came to Tyne Cot to see the men,
who gave their lives so bravely then,
I walked to a place I knew was there,
among the gravestones that looked so bare,
except a headstone which shared my name,
initials and surname was the same,
I hope to meet you yet again,
brave soldier who shared my name.
God Bless You.
© 2025 Andrew White
Tyne Cot is a place of remembrance, reflection, and connection. That single headstone reminded me that history isn’t just in books—it lives in names, in stories, and in the hearts of those who remember.
