'Tommies' Stand Guard at Hammersmith Town Hall

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Sculptures honour soldiers killed in WW1 ahead of Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Hammersmith Town Hall is being guarded by two six foot tall 'Tommies' ahead of Remembrance Day on Sunday, 11 November.

The striking metal sculptures, depicting a soldier with the rifle and helmet worn in the trenches, flank the memorial plaque paying tribute to the Hammersmith & Fulham soldiers who died in the war.

Tommy sculptures, created by the charity Remembered as part of its There But Not There campaign are being displayed up and down the country to honour the more than 800,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died, as we approach the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

The display in the town hall also honours two local soldiers who made extraordinary contributions in the First World War:

Cpl. Edward Dwyer

At just nineteen, Fulham-born Edward Dwyer was the youngest ever recipient of the Victoria Cross for his remarkable acts of bravery during the First World War.

On 20 April 1915, then Private Dwyer and his East Surrey Regiment comrades were under fire on Hill 60, in Zwartaleen, Belgium. Despite the danger, he left the trench during heavy shell fire to bandage his wounded comrades.

Later, when the trench was under attack from a hail of German grenades, he climbed the parapet and used his own hand grenades to successfully disperse the enemy.

Corporal Dwyer was killed in action on 3 September 1916 in the Somme and was buried in France. There is a memorial to him at Fulham Library and a commemorative stone was laid in his memory at Vicarage Gardens, Fulham.

On 20 April 1915, then Private Dwyer and his East Surrey Regiment comrades were under fire on Hill 60, in Zwartaleen, Belgium. Despite the danger, he left the trench during heavy shell fire to bandage his wounded comrades.

Later, when the trench was under attack from a hail of German grenades, he climbed the parapet and used his own hand grenades to successfully disperse the enemy.

Corporal Dwyer was killed in action on 3 September 1916 in the Somme and was buried in France. There is a memorial to him at Fulham Library and a commemorative stone was laid in his memory at Vicarage Gardens, Fulham.

Lt. Indra Lal Roy

Lt. Indra Lal Roy was born in Calcutta, India, on 2 December 1898, but grew up in London, attending St Paul’s School, Hammersmith, before joining the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917, aged just 18.

Known as India’s first ‘flying ace’, Roy was posted to No. 40 Squadron in France on 19 June 1918. During his time with the squadron, he shot down nine German planes in under two weeks.

He was killed during a dogfight with a German aircraft on 22 July, aged just 19. Roy was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was the first Indian to receive this honour and the only Indian to fly with the Corps (later to become the RAF) during the First World War.

He was one of six children born to women’s suffrage campaigner, Lolita Roy, who is commemorated in a separate art installation under the town hall extension. You can see the installation and read more about Lolita here.

Remembrance Day Ceremonies

A two minute silence will be held at 11am on Sunday 11 November at war memorials in both Shepherd's Bush and Fulham.

The two services will then be followed by separate parades in the north and south of the borough. The Remembrance events will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War when the guns of Europe fell silent and will also mark the sacrifices made in subsequent conflicts since.

The Shepherd's Bush procession will begin at Sulgrave Road, off Shepherd's Bush Road, at 10.15am before the service at the war memorial on Shepherds Bush Green. Both will be attended by H&F Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mercy Umeh.

The service will be conducted by Father Richard Nesbitt of Our Lady of Fatima church and Reverend Cameron Collington of St Simon’s church.

After the service, there will be a march past in Shepherds Bush Road where the Deputy Mayor will take the salute before the parade is dismissed in Westwick Gardens.

The Fulham procession will begin at Parsons Green at 10.20am and march down New Kings Road to the Fulham War Memorial in Vicarage Garden. The service will be led by Penny Seabrook, associate vicar of All Saints’ church, Fulham.

The service will be followed with a march across Fulham High Street to Fulham House where the Mayor, Cllr Daryl Brown, will take the salute before the parade is dismissed.

Residents are welcome to take part in just the services by going to either Shepherd's Bush Green or Vicarage Garden before 11am.

"Please join us on Remembrance Sunday as H&F residents gather to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves securing and protecting our freedom," says H&F Mayor, Cllr Daryl Brown.

"The 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War will make our tributes even more poignant this year."

November 6, 2018