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Local Heroes - Your streets were their streets Local Heroes - Your streets were their streets

The names of 197 local men who lost their lives in World War I are
inscribed on the bells of the Memorial Community Church in Plaistow. They are our local heroes

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Albert George Mortimer Identified

One unknown hero has been identified as Albert Mortimer, brother of Frederick Mortimer who died at the Battle of Jutland. A third brother, Henry, also among the fallen, is not commemorated on the bells. Thanks to Roger F Mortimer of …

Horace Patterson and Violet

Horace Patterson was killed in action on 24 August 1918, aged 26. He had got married in January that year to Violet Hensby, at West  Ham registry office. It’s been really good to find out more about his family from …

Hugh Alexander Cameron

Thanks to New City Primary School for filling in the story of Hugh Alexander Cameron, one of the local heroes we couldn’t clearly identify. They found out lots of information while researching former pupils commemorated on their school war memorial and kindly …

Ethel Ivory, “Tattooed Lady”

This beautiful photo is of Ethel Ivory, wife of Private James Henry Ivory, who was killed in action on 14 October 1918. He was a tattoo artist and she was a ‘tattooed lady’. 

Joshua Fardon’s Story

On Heritage Open Day, Saturday 12 September, local resident Linda Stock came to see the bells – thanks to a feature in the Newham Recorder – and found that among the men they commemorate is her great-uncle, Lance Corporal Joshua …

See the bells on Heritage Open Day Saturday 12 September

On Saturday 12 September 2015 between 11 am and 2 pm there will be a chance to visit the Memorial Bells. You can also go on a short walking tour of some of the places the Local  Heroes lived, to …

George William Husk

Thanks to Corinne Wheeler for sharing the story of her great-uncle George William Husk (Hursk).  His family lived in Malmsebury Terrace, Canning Town, but at the time of the 1911 census he was recorded as homeless, ‘wandering without shelter’ near …

First World War Stories: Centenary Project

Take a look at some great photos of artwork and writing created in 2014, as part of the First World War Stories project to mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. Local children and older people …

Local Heroes: First World War Stories project

In 2014, to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, a new project took place to explore the stories of people from Plaistow during the war, particularly those named on the Memorial Bells and their families. …

Find out more! Workshops start 4 August

Local Heroes: First World War Stories 5 August – 8 September 2014, Tuesdays 2 – 4 pm at Memorial Community Church in Plaistow Are you interested in finding out about the impact of the First World War on people in Plaistow, …