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Foots Cray Village War Memorial

Once the armistice took effect after 11th November 1918, the cottagers and the gentry, equally
experiencing a mixture of both extreme sadness and eternal gratitude, felt it was vitally important that
the men who had sacrificed their lives should not be forgotten. Proposals for the provision of some
sort of permanent monument were extensively discussed and residents of Sidcup, Foots Cray and
North Cray, began to put plans in place, but argued about who belonged to Sidcup and who belonged
to Foots Cray or North Cray.

With a considerable amount of local pride it was announced in June 1920 that a War Memorial Cross
was to be erected in the village of Foots Cray, which would be regarded as the village’s own Memorial
to its fallen. No lavish expenditure was to be undertaken, and it was not intended that the scheme
should make any difference to the Memorials being promoted in Chislehurst and Sidcup.

By time the November 1920 Remembrance Day was being commemorated, the people of Foots Cray
had decided that their War Memorial would be in the form of a granite-cross of the style of those
erected in English villages in olden days. It was to be placed in Church Road and the cost was estimated
to be about £300.

A committee was formed, headed by the Rector of All Saints Church, who organised fund-raising
events both inside the Church and in the grounds. It was acknowledged that although some of the
wealthy families would have willingly paid for the Memorial, members of the committee felt it was
vitally important that the villagers should make a contribution, however small, in order that they could
feel that it was their Memorial to their fallen.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, there was some disquiet when the names of the some of the Foots Cray and
th
North Cray fallen had been included on the Sidcup Memorial. On 20 November 1920 the Rev.
Berens-Dowdeswell, Hon. Secretary of Foots Cray War Memorial Committee, wrote to the local paper
commenting that

“whilst wishing to honour our men to the full, we protest about their being annexed by Sidcup. Certainly,
if their names are to be inscribed on the proposed Memorial, then it should be called “The Foots Cray,
North Cray, St. Paul’s Cray, and Sidcup War memorial.”

St. James’ Church Memorial

After the end of the terrible war, St. James’ Church parishioners decided to erect a small, very
personal cross in their intimate grounds. It contains very brief details of 17 men and their rank, both
rich and poor.

Nine of the names also appear on Foots Cray Memorial: Frank Ballard, Edward Brigden, Frederick
Corke, William Harris, James Saunders, Alfred Taylor, Harry Tuthill, Henry Wells and Thomas
Whiffen.

Who provided the funds is not known but it is more than possible that the local wealthy families, such
as the Vansittarts, Capt. North’s widow and the Vesey-Holt family made substantial contributions to
the final costs. It was dedicated during the early part of 1920.

For each man there is a poignant story of sacrifice, adventure and misadventure which should be
known and not forgotten. Each made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.