Chatham Naval Memorial

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Chatham Naval Memorial is a large obelisk situated in the town of Chatham, Kent, which is in the Medway Towns. The memorial is now the main feature of The Great Line Heritage Park. The huge expanse of the Great Lines was in its own right a layer of defence to protect Chatham Dockyard from attack.[1]

Chatham was a principal manning port of the Royal Navy during the First World War and thus was dedicated as the site of one of three memorials to sailors of the Royal Navy killed during the conflict but who have no grave.

The other memorials were situated at Portsmouth and Plymouth. The obelisks were designed by Sir Robert Lorimer[2] and the one at Chatham originally contained 8,515 names.

It is made of Portland stone with bronze plaques in 1920. It has steps up to a plinth with inscription plaques, and projecting corners with reclining lions, beneath a stepped base to the obelisk, which has a stepped top to an elaborate finial with corner ships prows and bronze supports to a ball.[3]

After the Second World War and its consequent loss of life, the decision was made to expand the three memorials and so the Chatham Naval Memorial was created from the 'Chatham Obelisk' and was given a surround designed by Sir Edward Maufe which contains 10,098 additional names from the later conflict. The surround is also made of Portland Stone, with bronze plaques. It has two pavilions; north and south which look out towards Chatham. Along the surround are 4 portland stone statues of sailors.

The Grade II listed memorial[3] is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The memorial featured prominently in the 1996 novel Last Orders by British author Graham Swift, as did the Medway Towns . The novel was adapted into a film and directed by Australasian director Fred Schepisi and starred inter alia Sir Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone and Helen Mirren. The memorial featured in a number of scenes.


  1. ^ "Chatham World Heritage Site". Retrieved 14 November 2012. 
  2. ^ Stephen's Study Room: British Military & Criminal History in the period 1900 to 1999
  3. ^ a b "First World War Memorial, Medway". Retrieved 14 November 2012. 

Further information[edit]

Further information see Commonwealth War Graves database page

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 51°23′01″N 0°31′56″E﻿ / ﻿51.38361°N 0.53222°E﻿ / 51.38361; 0.53222