History

ANZAC Day

An Annual Service is held here on the 25th April

Battle of Britain

The names of Australians and New Zealanders who died during the Battle of Britain in 1940 are included in the special roll of honour book deposited in the RAF chapel and the flags of both countries are shown furled in the Battle of Britain memorial window.

Lord Birdwood

Lord Birdwood was General Officer commanding the ANZAC forces 1914-18. As a Knight of the Order of the Bath he has a stall plate in Henry VII' s chapel, which is the Chapel of this Order

Captain James Cook (1728-1779)

Captain James Cook (1728-1779) is remembered on the "Navigators" memorial in the South Cloister (which also commemorates Sir Francis Drake and round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester). Made of coloured marbles it traces the course of voyages round the world made by these eminent sailors. Unveiled 1979.

Howard Florey, Baron Florey (1898-1968)

Howard Florey, Baron Florey (1898-1968) scientist, born in Australia, was responsible for the introduction of penicillin therapy. His memorial stone in the Nave is of South Australian granite, engraved by Australian sculptor Paul Trappe. Unveiled 1981.

Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870)

Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870) poet of Australia has a bust near Tennyson in Poets' Corner. It is by Lady Kennet, widow of Capt.Scott of the Antarctic, and was unveiled in 1934. Gordon was born in England but emigrated in 1853 and is buried near Melbourne.

Sir William McKie (1901-1984)

Sir William McKie (1901-1984) Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey, was born in Melbourne and is buried in the West Cloister. He was a director of music at the 1953 coronation.

Gilbert Murray (1866-1957)

Gilbert Murray (1866-1957) classical scholar, renowned for his translations of Greek plays, was born in Sydney. He moved to London where he died and his ashes are buried in the South Transept.

Ernest (Rutherford), 1st Baron Rutherford (1871-1937)

Ernest (Rutherford), 1st Baron Rutherford (1871-1937) physicist, born in New Zealand. He won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry and his ashes were buried near Sir Isaac Newton in the Nave.

More information on the people mentioned here can be obtained from the Abbey Library.