A brave soldier from Battersea who died in Iraq has been honoured in memorials planned by friends and family.

A commemorative bench now sits outside the Gardeners Arms on Chatham Road, the local of Lance Corporal James Cartwright.

James would spend many a happy night there with his school friends, who helped to organise the bench.

A plaque on the front reads: "In loving memory of Lance Cpl James Cartwright killed in Iraq. This bench has been presented by family and friends of the Gardeners Arms. Stand at ease."

The bench was installed in November last year, when old mates from Honeywell School in Honeywell Road and Southfields Community College joined friends and family for an evening in the pub.

Army friends from the Badger Squadron also made it down for the occasion.

Dad Gerry Cartwright, 55, said: "We had a party at that pub to see him off, so you can imagine how it felt when we were all there again."

His mum, Diana Cartwright, 50, added: "He was a very popular boy. The bench is a testament to that. I don't think anyone ever had a bad word to say about him."

The Cartwrights, who live on Salcott Road in Northcote, are still coming to terms with the death of their 21-year-old son last June.

Lucy, 10, the youngest of their four children, hopes to plant a rosebush at Honeywell School, where she is now a pupil. She and her friends will help erect a plaque with the bush as soon as the rose season arrives.

Mr and Mrs Cartwright were the guests of honour at an event at the Civic Suite paying tribute to soldiers from Wandsworth fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan last week.

They met the mayor of Wandsworth, and saw a special plaque erected to remember those from the borough who had risked their lives since 1914.

  • To see a video of Lance Cpl James Cartwright dad's tribute click here.