Friern Barnet and Finchley Photo Archive

Grove Road, N11

The Victoria Cross memorial stone which was unveiled on 1 December 2017. The inscription reads: "Allastair Malcolm Cluny McReady-Diarmid was born in Grove Road, New Southgate in March 1888 and was a posthumous recipient of the highest award for bravery, the Victoria Cross, whilst serving as a soldier in Worlds War I. On the 30th November 1917 at the Moeuvres Section in northern France, after the enemy had penetrated into the allies position Captain McReady-Diarmid of the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) led his company in a series of engagements through a heavy barrage to drive the enemy back. The following day, though the enemy continued to attack, Captain McReady-Diarmid led a further successful counter-attack driving the enemy back to their original starting point, but was sadly killed by a bomb."