One of Watford’s war memorials has been listed by Historic England as part of a wider programme of 14 listings to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force.
St Matthews Oxhey War Memorial – which includes the name of Reginald Alexander John Warneford – can be found in the grounds of St Matthew’s Church, Eastbury Road. He made a habit of intercepting and chasing German airships attempting to bring them down before they could get to Britain. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for successfully shooting and bombing a zeppelin over Sint Amandsberg (Ghent), Belgium on 7 June 1915.
The war memorial is one of 14 dedicated to First World War and Second World War airmen newly listed and upgraded to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force is the world’s first air force independent of army or navy control.
Text: Watford Borough Council