Firstly, let us know who you are, where you are, and what your interest is in War Memorials. You can do this by;

E-Mailing us at janet@newmp.org.uk

Dropping a line to:-

Mrs Janet Brown, Bilsdale, Ulgham, MORPETH, Northumberland, NE61 3AR

Or telephoning 01670 790465

Make sure you tell us your full contact details, including your postcode and E-Mail address, where available, and we will then register you as wishing to be an Associate of the Project.

This will ensure that you receive Project Newsletters E-Mailed, or posted, to you to keep you up to date on what is happening with the work of the Project, and also ensures that any information you supply will be credited to you on the relevant files.

As you will see, each War Memorial has a description file, often a list of the names commemorated, and one or more photographs. Would you be willing to double check the existing information against the actual War Memorial for accuracy as to description, location, condition and list of names?

In almost every case, the description file has questions unanswered, on such matters as the history of the War Memorial’s design, funding and construction. Would you – perhaps with your Local History or Heritage Group or Society – be willing to undertake the research to be able to close those gaps in information?

Are some of the commemorated names unclear due to weathering, or damage? Could you research the original list to clarify missing letters? If there are, for example, ambiguous letters, such as C and G being confused, can you help to cast light on what was put there in the first place?

Have you got, or can you take, better photographs than are already on the database? We are conscious that lighting and location problems mean that some of the images are poor – if you can do better, let us know.

Are there development proposals that affect the War Memorial? Is it being refurbished, moved, cleaned? Let us know so that we can update the information.

Are there proposals for new Memorials? We would like to know so that the database can be kept as comprehensive as possible.

Are names being added? Let us know so that appropriate recognition of that sacrifice can take place.

Have other items, such as older pictures or dedication service booklets, come to light? Let us know, so that they can be documented.

We have designed the Website and database in such a way that we can host the results of research into, not only the Memorial itself, but also the individuals commemorated. If you, or your local organisation, has done that research, we would be delighted to give it a home on the Website, with appropriate credit for the authors and links to the relevant bodies.

You will find guidance on how to carry out research and investigation into this key aspect of our community’s history here

You will find a form to E-Mail us your details, and the reference numbers of the War Memorials in which you are interested here. If you tell us that you wish to become an Associate of the Project, we will then send you a more comprehensive explanation of the information we gather, and the form in which it is recorded.

War Memorials are a crucial element of the local social, community, military and family history of the North East. They are a focus for remembrance, respect and reverence. The sacrifice of those commemorated was too precious to be allowed to wither because of ignorance or a lack of care.

Help us to create an archive that will be a massive tribute to all who suffered because of war, those who fought and those at home.