Memorial Details

Plaque 1-7th N.F. 1914-18 St. Michael

A11.08

ALNWICK

NU185137

St. Michael's Church, Canongate. On main column near door, below another plaque.

1914-18

Unveiled St. George's Day, 23rd April 1922, by Major-General Sir Geoffrey Fielding. Dedicated by Canon Mangin.

Plaque of black iron, measuring 2 feet 6 inches high x 4 feet wide (762 mm x 1.21 m). The shape, although basically rectangular, has elaborate additions at the sides and bottom, both patterned. The top has a rounded centre top and bears the Battalion crest cast above a semi-circular pattern of leaves. The lettering is in raised sans serif capitals.

Bronze

None

Officers, NCOs and men

Paid for by the Regiment

1. Major-Gen. Fielding had been put in command of 149th (Northumberland) Brigade when Brig-Gen. Riddell was killed in April 1915.

2. At the unveiling ceremony, the Duke of Northumberland presented medals to some soldiers, and commemoration cards to all soldiers, which had been provided by the local War Memorial Committee. These had been engraved by J.A. Harrison of London and suitably framed. The Alnwick Gazette reports frequently after the ceremony that there are still cards to be collected by those unable to attend on the day, and the fact that the Committee were anxious that nobody should be omitted from receiving one.

3. For Buckley’s Roll of Honour see A11.59

Photos: Tony Harding; Janet Brown

Morpeth Herald 24/03/1922 reports proposed unveiling; 28/04/1922 reports unveiling and giving of medals and cards.

Alnwick and County Gazette 11/03/1922 reports proposed unveiling etc.; 22/04/1922 reports proposed unveiling and handing out of Commemorative cards; 29/04/1922 reports unveiling with photo of memorial.

Alnwick Gazette Almanack and Diary 1923 includes a photo of the plaque by Bell Bolton, Amble

Illustrated Chronicle 11/04/1922 carries photo of plaque; 24/04/1922 reports unveiling with photos

Northern Echo 24/04/1922 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 18/03/1922 reports proposed unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle 01/04/1922 reports proposed unveiling and presentation of commemoration cards; 24/04/1922 reports unveiling.

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Archives, Alnwick Castle:
(a) Programme of unveiling ceremony
(b) Booklet A short memoir of Lt.Col. A.H. James, D.S.O., Major, Northumberland Fusiliers, Temporary Lieut.Col. Commanding 8th Battalion The Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment killed in action 26th March 1918. Includes photograph. (Exeter, Wm. Pollard & Co. Ltd., North St., 1918)
(c) Booklet In memoriam. Robert Kingsley Steel. Lieut., 5th Batt., N.F., killed whilst trying to rescue one of his men, who was gassed - wounded, near Ypres, 24th May 1915 (Newcastle, Grierson, Printer, Ellison Place)

St.George’s Gazette Vol. XL (1922) 29/04/1922 page 62 reports unveiling.

Diocese of Newcastle Faculty Book 1 , No. 793, 5/4/22, NRO 1875.

Morpeth Herald 1922 03 24 Fri

Morpeth Herald 1922 04 28 Fri

Northern Echo 1922 04 24 Mon

B. Woodhouse; Sally Bird; Alan Hodgson (St. Michael's Church); Janet Brown; Capt. P. Marr. R.R.F.; Tony Harding; Clive Roper; Dorothy Hall; Patrick Easen

The names on this memorial are being researched by the Alnwick District WWI Centenary Commemoration Group. Contact: ww1alnwickproject@yahoo.co.uk

 

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