Memorial Details
Memorial
Monument 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green
Reference
B1.01
Place
BACKWORTH
Map ref
NZ 300722
Original Location
Outside the Old Reading Room
Present Location
On Village Green, Backworth Lane
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled December 2nd 1922 by Col. L. Taylor of Hinderside Hall, Kelso; Dedicated by Rev. E. Arkless, Vicar of Earsdon, and Rev. R. Davies.
Memorial Description
Obelisk on stepped base. Total 14 feet high. Six steps lead up to the monument. Stepped stone plinth 168 cm x 168 cm at base, on the fourth of which is written "1914-18". Above this, the main pedestal bears the names on each face. A wider stone surmounts this, bearing the dedication. This is surmounted by an obelisk, lightly decorated with flags, and with further dedications. The lettering is incised and painted black, using sans serif capitals throughout.
Materials used
Granite on stone plinth.
Inscription
a. Lest / We / Forget. /
To the / honour / of our / glorious / dead / & / In memory of / the men of Backworth and West Holywell / who fell in the Great War / 1914-1919
b. In memory of / the men who fell / in the Second Great War
To the / honour / of our / glorious / dead / & / In memory of / the men of Backworth and West Holywell / who fell in the Great War / 1914-1919
b. In memory of / the men who fell / in the Second Great War
Names
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Erected by J.H. Taylor, Earsdon.
Notes
1. The original idea had been to erect a nurses' home, on a site offered by the Duke of Northumberland and with the Backworth Coal Co. promising £1,000. But two years later, the Committee still not had arrived at a decision. The idea of having one memorial for the district had been defeated by individual memorials being erected at Earsdon, New York and Backworth. Because of the circumstances, the Backworth Coal Co. withdrew its offer of £1,000.
2. The war memorial was re-erected on the village green in 1948.
3. The names of those who gave their lives in 1939-45 were inscribed by Mr. Gordon Thomas, a native of Backworth, who knew and had gone to school with many of them.
4. The photocopy of the unveiling photograph from Mrs. Edmonds shows her grandfather, Pipe Major John Wilson and his son, John Wilson. “At the outbreak of World War I my grandfather, then aged 51, his three sons and his brother-in-law Garnet Wolseley Fyfe joined the Tyneside Scottish Brigade. My grandfather was asked to transfer to the Tyneside Irish Brigade as Pipe Major and his eldest son, also John Wilson, stayed as Pipe Major with the Tyneside Scottish. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, my uncle John Wilson piped the men in his section ‘over the top’ and marched ahead across the battlefield, for which action he was awarded the Military Medal. Further along the line Garnet Fyfe piped his section into battle and was killed within minutes. His name appears on the war memorial at Shiremoor.”
2. The war memorial was re-erected on the village green in 1948.
3. The names of those who gave their lives in 1939-45 were inscribed by Mr. Gordon Thomas, a native of Backworth, who knew and had gone to school with many of them.
4. The photocopy of the unveiling photograph from Mrs. Edmonds shows her grandfather, Pipe Major John Wilson and his son, John Wilson. “At the outbreak of World War I my grandfather, then aged 51, his three sons and his brother-in-law Garnet Wolseley Fyfe joined the Tyneside Scottish Brigade. My grandfather was asked to transfer to the Tyneside Irish Brigade as Pipe Major and his eldest son, also John Wilson, stayed as Pipe Major with the Tyneside Scottish. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, my uncle John Wilson piped the men in his section ‘over the top’ and marched ahead across the battlefield, for which action he was awarded the Military Medal. Further along the line Garnet Fyfe piped his section into battle and was killed within minutes. His name appears on the war memorial at Shiremoor.”
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: J. Brown; P. Thirkell; Tony Harding; copies of photo of unveiling: R.H. Mitchelson, Killingworth L.H.S.
Shields Daily News 16/12/1921 tells of the troubles in obtaining a nurses' home; press report of the unveiling ceremony.
Blyth News 04/12/1922 gives report of unveiling ceremony.
Morpeth Herald 25/04/1919 reports proposals inc. three nurses’ homes at a cost of £2,000; 06/06/1919 reports efforts to provide a memorial; 16/01/1920 tells of the Duke's donation of land beside Backworth Railway Station for the erection of a nurses' home, and the donation of £1,000 by Backworth Coal Co. 1921 passim reports fund raising efforts. 16/12/1921 records withdrawal of £1,000 by Backworth Coal Co. through procrastination. 08/12/1922 reports unveiling.
Illustrated Chronicle 04/12/1922 reports unveiling with photos.
Northern Echo 04/12/1922 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 09/12/1922 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 06/01/1920 reports donation of plot of land from the Duke of Northumberland and the promise of £1,000 from Backworth Coal Co.
Source of quotation
“Lest we forget” Recessional Rudyard Kipling.
Shields Daily News 16/12/1921 tells of the troubles in obtaining a nurses' home; press report of the unveiling ceremony.
Blyth News 04/12/1922 gives report of unveiling ceremony.
Morpeth Herald 25/04/1919 reports proposals inc. three nurses’ homes at a cost of £2,000; 06/06/1919 reports efforts to provide a memorial; 16/01/1920 tells of the Duke's donation of land beside Backworth Railway Station for the erection of a nurses' home, and the donation of £1,000 by Backworth Coal Co. 1921 passim reports fund raising efforts. 16/12/1921 records withdrawal of £1,000 by Backworth Coal Co. through procrastination. 08/12/1922 reports unveiling.
Illustrated Chronicle 04/12/1922 reports unveiling with photos.
Northern Echo 04/12/1922 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 09/12/1922 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 06/01/1920 reports donation of plot of land from the Duke of Northumberland and the promise of £1,000 from Backworth Coal Co.
Source of quotation
“Lest we forget” Recessional Rudyard Kipling.
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
P. Thirkell; Anne Brown (Earsdon); Allan Oliver and Norman Grainger (Killingworth L.H.S.); J. Brown; the late Jack Tait (Blyth L.H.S.); R.H. Mitchelson, (Killingworth L.H.S.); Mrs Iris Edmonds; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Monument 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green (B1.01)
BACKWORTH, Village green.
On front of obelisk
Lest
We
Forget
To the
memory
of our
glorious
dead
On pediment at front
In memory of
the men of Backworth & West Holywell
who fell in the Great War
On front face Right hand side Left hand side
C. Lowes J. Armstrong J.W. Robinson
W. Milburn J.W. Armstrong H. Routledge
T. Mordue G. Barrass T. Simpson
W.A. Morton T.C. Broughton T.F. Skedge
M.T. MacMillen G.A. Brown T. Spence
J.R. MacMillen G. Buxton J. Spry
R. Nichol J. Carmichael W. Southall
J.F. Nichol T. Coxon T. Stephenson
W.J. Newman G.H. Gibson J. Swan
W. Ormston J. Gibson J. Tait
W. Ormston G. Gray, R. Hall J.W. Tait
J. Palmer T. Henton W. Taylor
J.R. Patterson J.S. Holland M. Toward
W.E.A. Potter G. Hornsby J.W. Travers
J. Peacock R.P. Jordan T. Wardle
J. Richardson D. Lovell C. Williamson
------------
On riser below
1914 - 1919
------------
On step below this
1939-45
---------------------------------------
On the rear side:
In memory of
the men who fell
in the second Great War
E.E. Brown
L.G. Brown
T.W.H. Charlton
W.O. Chater
W.L. Ellis
T.W. Gibson
A. Gleadle
J. Hudson
W. Patterson
W. Potter
R. Sanderson
J.W. Smith
M. Shackleton
J.R. Simpson
W. Tindle
R. Todd
S. Thomas
J.M. Tyrie
J. Wilson
E. Phillips
-------------------------------------------
The Northern Daily Chronicle has
C. Barrass instead of G. Barrass
C.A. Brown instead of G.A. Brown
J. Gray instead of G. Gray
F. Skedge instead of T.F. Skedge
G. Williamson instead of C. Williamson
T. Mordut instead of T. Mordue
M.T. Macmillan instead of Macmillen
J.R. Macmillan instead of J.R. Macmillen
R. Nicholson instead of R. Nichol
J.W. Newman instead of W.J. Newman
NamesB1.01
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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