Memorial Details
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Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Town Centre
Reference
H5.06
Place
HALTWHISTLE
Map ref
NY 703639
Original Location
Town centre. In front of the Hospital.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled November 13th 1926 by Brig. Gen. E.P.A. Riddell, C.M.G., D.S.O. Dedicated by Rev. Canon E.B. Hicks, Vicar of Haltwhistle.
b. 1948
b. 1948
Memorial Description
Cross about 7m high, base 336 cm x 336 cm. the front of which is totally covered with carvings raised in half relief. The pedestal has a three stepped shoulders. The dedications for both wars are incised on the front of the pedestal for the cross using Roman capitals.
The pedestal sits on a sandstone stepped base with side piers and end blocks, the whole memorial being 19 feet 6 inches high. The overall width is about 8m. There are four vase holders along the piers.
Bronze plaques 91.5cm high 57cm wide on both end blocks give names of those killed in 1914-18, listed in two columns on each. Further bronze plaques 28cm high x 102cm wide on the side piers give the dead from 1939-45 listed in four columns on each. Each of the four plaques has a border of Celtic knots, raised in casting. The lettering is in raised Roman capitals on all four plaques. The dates of 1914-18 and 1939-45 are incised into the stone above each plaque.
The pedestal sits on a sandstone stepped base with side piers and end blocks, the whole memorial being 19 feet 6 inches high. The overall width is about 8m. There are four vase holders along the piers.
Bronze plaques 91.5cm high 57cm wide on both end blocks give names of those killed in 1914-18, listed in two columns on each. Further bronze plaques 28cm high x 102cm wide on the side piers give the dead from 1939-45 listed in four columns on each. Each of the four plaques has a border of Celtic knots, raised in casting. The lettering is in raised Roman capitals on all four plaques. The dates of 1914-18 and 1939-45 are incised into the stone above each plaque.
Materials used
Greenlaw stone with bronze plaques.
Inscription
a. In proud and grateful memory / of those from this district who / gave their lives in the Great War / 1914 . 1918
b. and in the World War 1939 . 1945
b. and in the World War 1939 . 1945
Names
Who commissioned
a. Haltwhistle and District War Memorial Committee.
How money was raised
Public subscription
Present condition
Restored, 1996, when a wall and railings were placed around it.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Designed by Messrs. Hicks & Charlwood, Architects, Newcastle; made by Robert Beall, Sculptor, Newcastle.
Ownership and maintenance
At the unveiling ceremony, Col. Joicey (Chairman, War Memorial Committee) invited the Chairman of Haltwhistle Rural District Council "to accept the Memorial on behalf of the District, to keep for the Inhabitants for all time".
Notes
1. The imagery on the cross is as follows:
The head of the cross is carved on both front and back with never ending interlaced rope ornaments depicting "Eternity".
Front of the shaft is carved to represent the main trunk of a tree, with animals among its branches. At bottom there are two leverets representing Belgium feeding peacefully among the roots; swooping down are two birds of prey (Germany and Austria). Two rats represent the horrors of war; squirrels with oak leaves and acorns represent the British Empire. Two owls represent the wisdom of God. Dove of Peace is at the top.
2. "Town Councillor, Ian McMinn, joins men who are working on building the new bypass, and have given up their spare time to assist with the war memorial. They are Jimmy Collins, Gerry Munson, Martin Crowe and Ben Hall". (Caption below photograph in Hexham Courant 5/7/96
3. A crack which appeared on the monument in 2014 and which gave rise to fears that subsidence might occur were proved unfounded.
4. In spring 2014 the area was renovated. Money had been received from Tourism to encourage visitors to stay in the town centre. Local artists and the community designed a memorial mosaic. There is also a sound post which, when activated by pressing the pedal, tells visitors about the park and some of the people commemorated there.
5. There are a few discrepancies between the names listed on the memorial and those listed in the Unveiling Programme. These are:
Haltwhistle:
Sgt. F.A. Forster, not Foster;
Cpl. S. Mac.Quire, not Maguire;
Pte. J. Nixon, not J.R. Nixon;
Cpl. J. Yeomans , not Yeoman
Greenhead:
Sergt. J.E. Piersen, not Pierson;
6. The name of Pte. W. Whan should be Pte.John William Whann, and is incorrectly spelt both here and on the Book of Remembrance H5.01 (Dr. C. Armstrong).
The head of the cross is carved on both front and back with never ending interlaced rope ornaments depicting "Eternity".
Front of the shaft is carved to represent the main trunk of a tree, with animals among its branches. At bottom there are two leverets representing Belgium feeding peacefully among the roots; swooping down are two birds of prey (Germany and Austria). Two rats represent the horrors of war; squirrels with oak leaves and acorns represent the British Empire. Two owls represent the wisdom of God. Dove of Peace is at the top.
2. "Town Councillor, Ian McMinn, joins men who are working on building the new bypass, and have given up their spare time to assist with the war memorial. They are Jimmy Collins, Gerry Munson, Martin Crowe and Ben Hall". (Caption below photograph in Hexham Courant 5/7/96
3. A crack which appeared on the monument in 2014 and which gave rise to fears that subsidence might occur were proved unfounded.
4. In spring 2014 the area was renovated. Money had been received from Tourism to encourage visitors to stay in the town centre. Local artists and the community designed a memorial mosaic. There is also a sound post which, when activated by pressing the pedal, tells visitors about the park and some of the people commemorated there.
5. There are a few discrepancies between the names listed on the memorial and those listed in the Unveiling Programme. These are:
Haltwhistle:
Sgt. F.A. Forster, not Foster;
Cpl. S. Mac.Quire, not Maguire;
Pte. J. Nixon, not J.R. Nixon;
Cpl. J. Yeomans , not Yeoman
Greenhead:
Sergt. J.E. Piersen, not Pierson;
6. The name of Pte. W. Whan should be Pte.John William Whann, and is incorrectly spelt both here and on the Book of Remembrance H5.01 (Dr. C. Armstrong).
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: J. Brown; Tony Harding; Rodney Higgins; Sam Talbot
Imperial War Museum photograph in Mr. Saggers' Collection
Morpeth County Library Frith collection of photographs;
Hexham Courant 05/07/1996 has picture of people involved in the restoration; The feature 50 years ago reports unveiling of 1939-45 plaques; 03/01/1997 reports repairs to the “Cenotaph”
Imperial War Museum photograph in Mr. Saggers' Collection
Morpeth County Library Frith collection of photographs;
Hexham Courant 05/07/1996 has picture of people involved in the restoration; The feature 50 years ago reports unveiling of 1939-45 plaques; 03/01/1997 reports repairs to the “Cenotaph”
External web link
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
P. Thirkell; Imperial War Museum; Rodney Higgins, J. Brown; C.M. Dallison; Tony Harding; Dr. C. Armstrong; Sam Talbot
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Town Centre (H5.06)
HALTWHISTLE, Town Centre
In proud and grateful memory
of those from this district who
gave their lives in the Great War
1914 . 1918
and in the World War
1939 . 1945
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First plaque
1914 . 1918
Haltwhistle
Pte. R. Anson L/Cpl. G.W. Liddell
" O. Armstrong Pte. J. Lytollis
" T. Armstrong " C. Maddison
" T.W. Armstrong Cpl. S. Maguire
" H. Bell Pte. T. Maitland
" J.K. Bell L/Cpl. T. Morton
" R.H. Bell Pte. W.E. Mundle
" W. Bell " J. Navin
" C.J.L. Birkett " T. Nelson
C.S.M. J. Bowerbank " J. Nixon
L/Cpl. J. Bushby " J.P. Nixon
Pte. J. Carrick " E. Nolan
" J. Carruthers 2/Lieut. J. Parker
Cpl. J.H. Clark Pte. E.F. Pattinson
Pte. R. Dent Cpl. J. Percival
Sergt. T. Dixon Pte. W. Reay
Cpl. T.B. Dodd " F.B. Ridley
L/Cpl. A. Errington " J.H. Ridley
Pte. T. Fawcett " A. Robson
Sergt. F.A. Foster " J.T. Robson
" J. Gibson Cpl. W. Sanderson
Pte. J. Gould Pte. T.L. Scott
" J. Graham " G.A. Shield
" T. Graham Nurse O. Smith
" W. Graham Capt. Raymond Smith
Cpl. A. Hetherington Pte. J.C. Sowerby
Pte. J.T. Hetherington " R.E. Spark
" W. Hetherington Cpl. W.H. Spark
Sergt. J.G. Hewitt Pte. J. Steele
Pte. E. Hood " G. Symes
Lieut. J. Hope Wallace Sergt. W. Tweddell
Pte. C. Hunter Cpl. R. Venables
" G. Hunter Pte. T.W. Wallace
" H.A. Hunter " W. Waugh
" E.H. Jackson " W. Whan
" G.A. Johnson Lieut. H.L. Willey
Sergt. E. Keen Pte. R. Wilson
Pte. T.W. Keen " R.W. Wilson
" E.H. Leake " E. Wright
" J.L. Lee L/Cpl. T. Yates
Nurse J.S. Lee Cpl. J. Yeoman
Sergt. G.H. Liddell
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Second plaque
1914 . 1918
Bardon Mill
Pte. W. Armstrong Pte. R. Graham
" W. Atkinson " S. Johnston
" J. Bell " A. Little
" R. Benson " G.E. Little
" M. Blair " H. Little
" J. Bolman " G. Mole
Lieut. C.L.C. Bowes Lyon " J.A. Nicholson
Pte. F. Bowman " T.H. Nicholson
Cpl. P. Cook L/Cpl. W. Pearson
Pte. A. Furlong Pte. T.F. Tweeddale
Pte. G.W.C. Usher
Greenhead
Pte. R. Armstrong Pte. T.R. Mounsey
" A. Bell Sergt. J.W. Pierson
L/Cpl. J. Bushby Pte. G. Robson
Pte. W. Carrick " T. Robson
" J. Graham " W. Routledge
" J.A. Hunter " T. Smith
L/Cpl. J.G. Hunter " W. Snowdon
Pte. J.G. Irving " J.W. Teasdale
Capt. Clive Montagu Joicey" G.H. Whitehead
Pte. E.F. McClafferty " F.E. Wilson
Lambley
Pte. P. Bell L/Cpl. W. Marshall
" E.B. Carrick Gnr. J. Park
" W. Glenwright Pte. W. Riddell
Slaggyford
Pte. J.H. Horn Sgt. J.W. Pearson
Cpl. W.J.B. Ingledow Gnr. J.E. Ridley
Whitfield
2/Lieut.J. Archbold Rfn. E. Forrest
Cpl. R. Armstrong L/Cpl. G. Gibson
L/Cpl. T. Armstrong Trop. J.S. Jackson
Cpl. T.J. Baxter Pte. R. Lee
Capt. M.H. Bettison " G. Mole
Pte. A. Clarricoats " J. Whitfield
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Third plaque
1939 . 1945
Haltwhistle Bdr. J.R. Dodd Sgt. H.R. Harbin F/O. K. Norman
Cpl. J.W. Davey Tpr. C. Hetherington S/Sgt. G.A. Owen
P/O E.S. Atkinson L/Bdr. E.D. Fidler F/Lt. E.L. Hetherington Std. R. Pearson
Sgt. J.D. Bell Gnr. W.M. Fleming Sgt. E. Hudspith L/Cpl. R.A. Reay
L/Str. R. Black Cpl. W.D. Fletcher Fus. D.G. Johnson Cpl. G.T. Reed
Cpl. D.B. Bowman Gnr. E.B. Fullen Spr. A.W. Johnston F/O. J.E. Robson
Cpl. E.A. Breakwell Lt.Col. J.H. Gardner L/Cpl. A.E. Laidlow Pte. T.W. Schollick
Gdn. E. Davidson Pte. W. Gibson Tpr. J.R.B. Murray Sgt. G.A. Shield
Sub-Lt.(A) F.W.E. Dixon Gnr. G.R. Graham L/Cpl. W.B. Noble C/Ofr. W.R. Storey
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Fourth plaque
1939 . 1945
Haltwhistle Bardon Mill Greenhead Sgt. G.H. Sim
F.O. J.A.R. Thompson Pte. T.L. Armstrong Sgt. R. Armstrong Sgt. L.A. Sim
Pte. W.N. Thompson Gnr. A.A. Dinning P/O J.H. Henderson
Spr. G.B. Waugh Dvr. T. Hodgson Pte. M. Herdman Knarsdale
Pte. J. Wilkinson Sgt. H.M. Pattinson Sgt. R.A. Heslop Pte. R. Ridley
W/O W.A. Woodman Sgt. J.C. Skelton Pte. J.F. Mounsey Pte. J.J. Turnbull
Pte. J. Yeomans L.A.C. J.R. Surtees Sgt. W. Raine
Cpl. J.G. Adamson Cpl. J. Ward Pte. W.L. Robson
NamesH5.06
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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