World War 1 Memorial, Kingston Frost Park

Also known as Brixton War Memorial

Last Updated: July 7, 2025

Kingston Frost Park WW1 Memorial looking north March 2025 Marc Latilla

Kingston Frost Park WW1 Memorial northern aspect March 2025 Marc Latilla

Kingston Frost Park WW1 Monument eastern aspect March 2025 Marc Latilla

About World War 1 Memorial, Kingston Frost Park

Polished black granite obelisk on rough granite plinth mounted on hammer-dressed koppiestone on a natural koppie. Carefully detailed monumental work with a collar and rough quoining on the edges to frame the polished granite sections with the inscriptions.

Only the names and regiments are listed no actual dates, and there is no general dedication.

Address

Kingston Frost Park, Chiswick and Beverley Roads Brixton

History

Originally on the land of the Freemasons of the local lodge in Brixton commemorating men of Brixton who died in the First World War. It may have been at the instigation of the Freemasons, but it is very similar (although more modest) to the one in Selby for the men of Ferreira Deep Gold Mine.

It stood originally on the Masons property, Stand 278 in Fulham Road Brixton which by 1936 was required for building.

Minutes of the 603^rd meeting of the Council, 23^rd June 1936:

Item 7.

“The memorial was erected at the conclusion of hostilities to the men who were killed in action or died during the Great War. There being no public park in existence at the time, the memorial was erected on Stand 278.

We recommend:

that permission be granted to erect the memorial in Brixton Park

in memory of the those men of Brixton who died in the Great war.

(b) That the memorial be erected to the satisfaction of the Council on a site indicated by the Director of Parks and Improvements.

© That the Council agree to accept the custody of the Brixton War Memorial and undertake the car thereof and the ground surrounding it for all time.

Statement of Significance

●All the South Africans who served in the First World War were volunteers.There was no conscription and the rewards were pitifully few. So they really laid down their lives for a cause to which their country was committed. ●All the names listed are English with the exception of Gunner van Blerk. But all the regiments are South African apart from the Royal Flying Corps. People are quick to dismiss these as Englishmen fighting for King and Empire.They were South Africans fighting under the South African flag. ●Only one was a commissioned officer Lieut. J. Borrowman who served with the Royal Flying Corps, predecessor to the RAF. There was only one non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Cage. That reflects the working class character of Brixton at the time. ●One third were privates in the South African Infantry – the cannon- fodder of most wars and especially this one. ●It reflects in a small way the huge loss of life in the First World War. Second World War Memorials tend to be tacked on to First World War ones simply because the death rate in the First was so much greater, the second seems almost insignificant. Interestingly there is no second batch here. ●The enormous and elaborate Prince Albert War Memorial in East London commemorates 9 men who died in several Frontier wars. This commemorates 12 men from one suburb. For funds to be raised in a blue collar community for such a monument indicates how strong local feeling was. This is essentially a local monument which was erected by a local community at a time when working class families were experiencing great hardship.

Inscription

Significantly only the names of the individual men appear. The people matter more than any noble sentiment or perhaps they weren’t going to pretend that their names would live forever more. Perhaps they simply could not afford any further cost.

Legal Status

Protected by Section 37 of the National Heritage Resources Act