Jump to content

Recommended Posts

My father visited me earlier this week and we spent a interesting hour or so in Camberwell Old Cemetery. The main entrance is on Forest Hill Road.


There were 3 fascinating memorials there that I thought were worth telling people about.


In the war grave part of the cemetery, on your right as you go in through the main gates, is the grave of Able Seaman Albert McKenzie, winner of a VC in WW1. Unusually he was awarded the VC by ballot following the raid on Zeebrugge in 1918. Poignantly, although he recovered almost completely from the wounds he suffered during the action and was awarded the VC whilst alive, he died aged 19 in 1918 in the great flu epidemic.


There is a lot more info here www.mckenzie.uk.com/zeebrugge/

I have attached a photo of his grave (apologies for the quality of the photos - they were taken on my phone).


Close to the war graves section is a memorial to 3 members of the Armenian Hentchakist Party who were assasinated in 2 separate incidents in 1903. 2 of those remembered were shot somewhere on Peckham Rye, outside their party headquarters, but I haven't been able to find out where that would have been. The politics of the time are difficult to unravel at first glance but I believe the assasinations to be small incidents demonstrating a political instability in an area which a decade later would lead to the start of the Great War.


The memorial was a striking red marble obelisk on a inscribed plinth. Unfortunately the obelisk has toppled onto nearby graves. A pictures of this memorial is also attached.



Further into the cemetery in the central area is the grave of James John Berkeley. He was the chief engineer of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Originally an assistant to Robert Stephenson he was reponsible for the laying of lines across exceptionally difficult terrain with viaducts and tunnels being lasting memorials to the feats of engineering (and manpower). Rather than a grave I think the memorial is a mausoleum which was provided by the employees of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway which is inscribed with a tribute to the engineering ability of Mr Berkeley. The exact wording was interesting as it gave a real sense of the formality of the time and the admiration in which he was held. I will try to post it soon. He died in Sydenham a number of years after returning from India.


Again a picture of the memorial is attached.


Edited because I said left when I meant right

I have just read with great interest and appreciated what you have said about old camberwell cemetery. considering the war heroes that are buried there and memorials to them; it is a shame that there are only two men to maintain 40 acres of grounds on their own. complaints are regulary recieved directly to the two members of staff with regards to the upkeep and maintaince of the cemetery. I have witnessed this on several occassions whilst walking my dog in the cemetery. I have come across people complaining about the upkeep of individual grave stones, plots and. further support would be required to maintaince this cemetery to a standard that is acceptable to the general public. All complaints and comments should be forwarded to Southwark standard officer.
I love walking through the cemetery and read about all of the loved and interesting people who have passed away. What always makes me sad though are the unkept graves, I would really love to be able to tend them! I wonder if it is ok? Does anyone know? Or know who I would ask for permission? They would be cared for and I would feel happier to see them, and I could do some gardening! ( I miss that with my current flat.)They all should be looked after so many of them have touching stories with them...
  • 3 months later...

"The politics of the time are difficult to unravel at first glance but I believe the assasinations to be small incidents demonstrating a political instability in an area which a decade later would lead to the start of the Great War."*~


Peckham's instability led to the great war? This is worrying, especially in the light of recent demonic chanting there. Eek!!


Though seriously, we are spoilt for those beautiful victorian graveyards around here, see Nunhead, West Norwood etc.

I find the war cemeteries in Nunhead absolutely heartbreaking I must say, so many young lads from all over the world. Tragic.


Took a couple of snaps myself



 

I must say Trinity, you've piqued my interest.


I here link an article from the New York times on Nov 5th 1903 about the murders you refer to, fascinating stuff and thanks for pointing out all this interesting history we have local to us.


It's in PDF format.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0F11FA3B5D16738DDDAC0894D9415B838CF1D3


Whilst I'm here I'll be hideously pedantic and say that Armenia isn't in the Balkans but the Caucasus, and though it's sort of related to Balkan troubles in that its related to the last days of Ottoman rule, the Caucasus wasn't a powder keg for the Great War, we have trouble in Serbia and environs to thank for that little number (I went to Sarajevo in 2004 and stood on the very spot as it happens, an amazing city and well worth a visit).


The Genocide of Armenians by the Ottomans however, witnessed and documented by German officials at the time, would go on to have a formative influence on Nazi policy makers in the Second World War and the far better known Holocaust.

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> >

> Whilst I'm here I'll be hideously pedantic and say

> that Armenia isn't in the Balkans but the

> Caucasus.


How embarassing to get my Balkans and my Caucasus mixed up. In my defence, Armenian made me think genocide, made me think Turkey, made me think Balkans. :-$


I like the link to the NYT - thanks for that. There are some accounts of the murders on the times archive website but they charge for access to their archives.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Per Cllr McAsh, as quoted above: “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution. " Is anyone au fait with the Clean Air Act 1993, and  particularly with the state of 'Smoke Control' law and practice generally?  I've just been looking  through some of it for the first time and, afaics, the civil penalties mentioned  were introduced into the Clean Air Act, at Schedule 1A, in May 2022.  So it seems that, in this particular,  it's a matter of the enforcement policy trailing well behind the legislation.  I'm not criticising that at all, but am curious.  
    • Here's the part of march46's linked-to Southwark News article pertaining to Southwark Council. "Southwark Council were also contacted for a response. "Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste said: “One of Southwark’s key priorities is to create a healthy environment for our residents. “To achieve this we closely monitor legislation and measures that influence air pollution – our entire borough apart from inland waterways is designated as a Smoke Control Area, and we also offer substantial provision for electric vehicles to promote alternative fuel travel options and our Streets for People strategy. “We as a council support the work of Mums for Lungs and recognise the health and environmental impacts of domestic solid fuel burning, particularly from wood-burning appliances. “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution.  “This work is being undertaken in collaboration with other London boroughs as part of the pan-London Wood Burning Project, which aims to harmonise enforcement approaches and share best practice across the capital.” ETA: And here's a post I made a few years ago, with tangential relevance.  https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/278140-early-morning-drone-flying/?do=findComment&comment=1493274  
    • The solicitor is also the Executor. Big mistake, but my Aunt was very old, and this was the Covid years and shortly after so impossible to intervene and get a couple of close relatives to do this.  She had no children so this is the nephews and nieces. He is a single practitioner, and most at his age would have long since retired - there is a question over his competence Two letters have already gone essentially complaining - batted off and 'amusingly' one put the blame on us. There are five on our side, all speaking to each other, and ideally would work as a single point of contact.  But he has said that this is not allowed - we've all given approval to act on each others behalf. There are five on her late husband's side, who have not engaged with us despite the suggestion to work as a team, There is one other, who get's the lion's share, the typicical 'friend', but we are long since challenging the will. I would like to put another complaint together that he has not used modern collective communication (I expect that he is incapable) which had seriously delayed the execution of the will.   I know many in their 80s very adept with smart phones so that is not an ageist comment. The house has deteriorated very badly, with cold, damp and a serious leak.  PM me if you want to see the dreadful condition that it is now in. I would also question why if the five of us are happy to work together why all of us need to confirm in writing.             The house was lived in until Feb 23, and has been allowed to get like this.
    • Isn’t a five yearly electricity safety certificate one of the things the landlord must give for a legal tenancy?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...