SOUTH LONDON PRESS
3 December 1920
FALLEN POSTAL WORKERS.
Stockwell Sorting Office War Memorial Unveiled.S.W. DISTRICT'S RECORD
Members of the staff of the Stockwell Postal Sorting Office gathered in large numbers in the office, Wynne-rd., Stockwell , on Wednesday afternoon to witness the unveiling of a bronze memorial tablet mounted on black marble, and containing the names of six members of the staff who sacrificed their lives in the war. A number of the relatives of the fallen ones were also present. The ceremony opened with an address by Mrs. [sic] W. T. D. Young, postmaster of the South-Western District Office, who said that no fewer than 1,600 postal workers from the South-Western district fought for their country, 38 gaining distinctions and 188 laying down their lives. Out of a staff of 114 at the Stockwell office, 72 saw active service, 17 were wounded and 6 killed, and to these latter the memorial was about to be dedicated. Mr. Young unveiled the memorial, upon which were inscribed the following names:-
E. W. Elkens
E. Eldridge
and J. Williams.
Underneath are the words:- "Let We Forget." On top were hung a laurel wreath and a wreath of white flowers was afterwards placed near the memorial by Mrs. Eldridge. Other floral tributes were added by relatives.
After a silence of one minute's duration Rev. Barlow Poole (Vicar of St Andrew's, Stockwell), dedicated the memorial "to the glory of God and in memory of our brothers who gave their lives for Freedom." The company then recited the Lord's Prayer, after which the "Last Post" was sounded by a bugler, Mr. F. W. Taylor.
Rev. Barlow Poole remarked that in 1914, when the war burst upon them, the pick of the nation's manhood came forward to fight for their country and to secure freedom. They stood as a bulwark of flesh between the enemy and their loved ones at home, and ultimately freed the world from a great danger. Memorials should keep that fact fresh in their memories.
The Vicar then gave the blessing, after which Mr. Young presented to the relatives of the deceased a framed photograph of the memorial.
© South London Press