Bench honours first British soldier to die in World War One

Barnet Council has funded and installed a commemorative bench in North Finchley in memory of the first British soldier to die in World War One after the Tommy sculpture honouring him was stolen.

Private John Parr, who lived in 52 Lodge Lane, North Finchley, was killed in a skirmish with German troops in Belgium aged 17 on 21 August 1914. The bench is on the edge of Lodge Lane Car Park and has been installed close to where he lived.

A Tommy silhouette sculpture was previously installed in his memory but was stolen last year.

The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Danny Rich, said: “It’s important at this time of year to remember all those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It was deeply saddening to hear about the Tommy sculpture’s theft, but we hope this bench will be a fitting tribute to Private Parr for many years to come.”

The new bench bears a plaque that reads: “Remembering Private John Parr and other local dead of the Great War. There, but not there.”

From the 114 houses in Lodge Lane, Albert Street and William Street – which ran through what is now the car park – 111 men fought in the First World War. At least nine of these servicemen were killed.

Mr Martin Russell MBE, Representative Deputy Lieutenant of the London Borough of Barnet and Greater London, said: “Parr was the first of many local lads to die in the Great War. The centenary of his death was marked with a stone let into the pavement outside number 52 where his family lived, and subsequently by an information board next to the silhouette of a Tommy on the site of his original home.  Regrettably this silhouette was damaged and illegally removed last year.  The council quickly funded and installed the bench as a replacement, and the Trustees of Barnet War Memorials Association are grateful.”