The war memorial is built of Portland Stone and was designed by Captain Thomas Lodge.  Unveiled in 1924, it was to commemorate the Great War casualties of the 1st and 2nd Battalion of the 24th The London Regiment, known as the Queens, our local battalion, based in Braganza St, now New St. Their regimental badge was the Lamb of Lambeth and a flag bearing the cross of St George. The World War One battle honours were carved on the monument and are France, Flanders, Salonika and Palestine. Originally the memorial had a metal (possibly bronze) sculpture of military banners and machine guns, rifles, bayonets and hand grenades, this has now disappeared.  The battalion became the 1st and 2nd 7th The Queens (Royal West Surrey Reg)  and their World War Two battle honours were added at the sides  in 1947.  This is now the local war memorial for all military casualties.  In 2012 it was cleaned and restored with monies raised by the Friends. In  2014 the railings surrounding it were damaged by a falling tree, but were then repaired. It a well attended ceremony in July 2014, the 90th anniversary of its unveiling, the memorial was re dedicated.  It was listed grade II in 2017 by English Heritage.

​

The history of the 24th Londons puts their Great War casualties as 42 officers and 853 men. The youngest was Bernard Arthur Johnson from Carlisle who was killed on 26 May 1915, 71 days after he had arrived in France, he was 17 years and 8 months of age. The oldest was possibly Sergeant Robert Robertson who died of sickness in January 1919 aged 58.

​

To commemorate Kennington Park's connection with World War One, in November 2018 it was declared a Centenary Field by Fields in Trust. It had been nominated by Lambeth Council.  It means that the park is a living memorial to the casualties of what we now call the Great War. This dedication signifies a clear commitment to the importance of the park.

​

During the dedication service on 21 October 2018 attended by the Friends of Kennington Park, local residents and the congregation of St Mark's Kennington, a number of local casualties were remembered:

​

Private Thomas Basketfield of Vauxhall St, who worked for a motor car manufacturer, he was killed in May 1916 just 10 weeks after he had arrived on the Western Front, he was 22

Corporal William Duke of 7 Offley Rd who died in France of wounds on 19 September 1918 aged 21. William’s sister was married in St Mark’s Church  in 1915 and William is listed on the church's  memorial.

Drummer Charles Matkin, of 29 Doddington Grove, killed in action in August 1917 and buried near Ypres, his headstone reads “God’s finger touched him and he slept”

Pte Horace Charles Porter of Carroun Rd, killed in May 1915, 10 weeks after the 24th Londons landed in France, he was just 18. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret memorial. His name was on the street shrine erected at St Mark's in October 1916 and he is on their war memorial.