Chris Horner of Southgate District Civic Trust introduces the unveiling ceremony
Memorials to staff of the former Southgate Council who were killed in action during the two world wars were today formally unveiled in their new home in Palmers Green Library.
The ceremonial unveiling of the Southgate Town Hall Staff War Memorials was performed by the Mayor of Enfield, Councillor Saray Karakus, in the presence of relatives of some of the fallen. During the ceremony, described as "moving and poignant", the names of all the men commemorated were read out to the assembled gathering. There were also readings from For the Fallen and the Kohima Epitaph, and a bugler sounded the Last Post.
The WW2 war memorial, photographed while in storage
The ceremony was organised by Southgate District Civic Trust, whose members were joined by staff from Enfield Libraries and the Museum of Enfield, by members of local community groups and by a representative of the national charity Civic Voice.
Local politicians at the ceremony included Joanne McCartney, deputy mayor of London for education and childcare and assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, as well as several councillors representing wards that formed part of the old Southgate Municipal Borough.
The bugler sounds the Last Post
The military were represented by members of the 4th Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, and a bugler from the Welsh Guards.
Until 2012 the two war memorials were located in Southgate Town Hall. When the town hall was acquired for conversion into residential accommodation, they were removed by staff from the Museum of Enfield and placed in storage. In November 2018 they were installed in Palmers Green Library, next door to their original home.
Chris Horner, vice chair of Southgate District Civic Trust, said:
"We are delighted that thanks to the efforts of the Trust's members and of staff from the Museum of Enfield, Enfield Libraries and the Enfield Local Studies Team, these memorials have been restored and are back on display."
The Trust has produced a special booklet to mark the event, which includes details of all the fallen, with a brief biography of each person. A copy was presented to everyone who came to the ceremony. Further copies will be available at SDCT meetings.
The attendees at the ceremony pose in front of the memorial plaques
