Memorial Details
Memorial
Monument 1914-18 1939-45 Cyprus Westgreen
Reference
C36.04
Place
CHOPPINGTON
Map ref
NZ 256854
Original Location
Outside the Choppington Miners' War Memorial Institute C36.06
but moved to the present site in 1954. See Note 4 and 9 below.
but moved to the present site in 1954. See Note 4 and 9 below.
Present Location
Westgreen, opposite school.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
c. Cyprus 1958
b. 1939-45
c. Cyprus 1958
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 9th April 1925 by Sapper George Smith , MM., who replaced Mr. F.C. Fellowes, who was indisposed. Dedicated by Rev. J. Burdon, now Vicar of Kill
Memorial Description
Upright monument of stone with two side wings, which sits on two concrete steps on the green in front of old people's homes.
The central panel has a plaque 4 feet high x 3 feet wide, bearing two classical figures on either side. The dedication is written in elongated Roman capitals. The names are listed in three columns using sans serif capitals.
Beneath this is a small plaque 5 inches high x 9 inches wide bearing the Cyprus commemoration. On this, the word "Cyprus" is in Roman capitals while the name and date are in sans serif capitals.
On the wings on either side are panels each 2 feet 6 inches high by 1 foot wide, bearing the names from 1939-45 in a single column on each using Roman capitals.
The stonework is painted with cream wash. The metal panels are painted black.
--------------------------
In 2015 the memorial was completely rebuilt with different stone, with some of the original stonework retained at its core. The four separate panels have been made into one, with the names from 1914 in three columns at the top, followed by the names from 1939-45 in three panels, and finishing with the name from Cyprus. The names themselves remain unaltered, with no additional names nor adjustments made. The name from Korea was not included.
The central panel has a plaque 4 feet high x 3 feet wide, bearing two classical figures on either side. The dedication is written in elongated Roman capitals. The names are listed in three columns using sans serif capitals.
Beneath this is a small plaque 5 inches high x 9 inches wide bearing the Cyprus commemoration. On this, the word "Cyprus" is in Roman capitals while the name and date are in sans serif capitals.
On the wings on either side are panels each 2 feet 6 inches high by 1 foot wide, bearing the names from 1939-45 in a single column on each using Roman capitals.
The stonework is painted with cream wash. The metal panels are painted black.
--------------------------
In 2015 the memorial was completely rebuilt with different stone, with some of the original stonework retained at its core. The four separate panels have been made into one, with the names from 1914 in three columns at the top, followed by the names from 1939-45 in three panels, and finishing with the name from Cyprus. The names themselves remain unaltered, with no additional names nor adjustments made. The name from Korea was not included.
Materials used
Original memorial: Heworth stone with bronze panels.
Restored memorial is made with stone from Blagdon surface mine to represent the local mining heritage. The new panel is made of resin.
Restored memorial is made with stone from Blagdon surface mine to represent the local mining heritage. The new panel is made of resin.
Inscription
a. This tablet was erected / in honoured memory of the / following brave men of / Choppington and District / who gave their lives in their / Country's cause.
"May their reward be as / great as their sacrifice"
b. World War / 1939 to 1945
c. Cyprus
"May their reward be as / great as their sacrifice"
b. World War / 1939 to 1945
c. Cyprus
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee: Chairman Mr. T. McHugh, J.P.; secretary Mr. G. Davison; treasurer, Mr. A. Crackett.
Cost
Original memorial: £250 approx.
Restored memorial: £27,000
Restored memorial: £27,000
How money was raised
Public subscription
Present condition
Rebuilt 2015
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Designed by Mr. G. Burn of Bebside. Made by J.W. Reed of Newcastle. Erected by Mr. Oliver of Bedlington.
The 2015 restoration was carried out by David Sutton, Rothbury stonemason.
The 2015 restoration was carried out by David Sutton, Rothbury stonemason.
Ownership and maintenance
At the unveiling, the hall was officially handed over to the Chairman of the Memorial Institute. Now maintained by Wansbeck District Council.
Notes
1. Mr. Norman Brown reports that he has a certificate which was presented to Mr. Joseph Yeaman by the Choppington Colliery War Memorial Committee for services rendered in connection with the Memorial in April 1923.
2. These bronze plaques were to have been unveiled in 1925 at the same time as the hall was opened, but they were not ready in time.
3. At the unveiling, the memorial had been formally handed over to the Chairman of the Institute Committee.
4. November 27 1953: "Choppington War memorial is shortly to be moved from its present position in the grounds of the Welfare Institute to a new site in the Scotland Gate housing estate. The Scotland Gate branch of the British Legion feel that the memorial is not in a central position and also, if proposed repairs to the Institute are carried out, it may result in the memorial being damaged”. “New Post Leader 26/11/2003 “All Our Yesterdays” .
5. The memorial was moved because the Institute was having structural problems.
6. It appears that at some stage there was a small plaque placed on the memorial by the mother of a man who was killed in Korea, but the plaque came off.
7. The memorial was damaged after only having been up a few days. The Institute Committee promised they would endeavour to protect it.
8. The man who unveiled the memorial “with soldierly brevity” in 1925 was Sapper George Smith, who wore the Military Medal and Mons Star, whose distinctions were gained when he rescued three comrades in the RE Tunnelling Corps who had been buried in a shaft by the explosion of a land mine at Givenchy in 1917. He lost a leg, having been shot in the knee. His leg was amputated by German surgeons when he was Prisoner of War.
9. Morpeth Herald reports unveiling on new site - re-dedication by Rev George Halden Earle, Vicar of Choppington unveiling by Mr T.E. Hedley president of the Choppington Branch of the British Legion. After the Second World War the names of those who fell are added and recently after the removal of the Memorial a further name was added -that of J.T. Bell who shortly after he was married was killed in the Korean War.
2. These bronze plaques were to have been unveiled in 1925 at the same time as the hall was opened, but they were not ready in time.
3. At the unveiling, the memorial had been formally handed over to the Chairman of the Institute Committee.
4. November 27 1953: "Choppington War memorial is shortly to be moved from its present position in the grounds of the Welfare Institute to a new site in the Scotland Gate housing estate. The Scotland Gate branch of the British Legion feel that the memorial is not in a central position and also, if proposed repairs to the Institute are carried out, it may result in the memorial being damaged”. “New Post Leader 26/11/2003 “All Our Yesterdays” .
5. The memorial was moved because the Institute was having structural problems.
6. It appears that at some stage there was a small plaque placed on the memorial by the mother of a man who was killed in Korea, but the plaque came off.
7. The memorial was damaged after only having been up a few days. The Institute Committee promised they would endeavour to protect it.
8. The man who unveiled the memorial “with soldierly brevity” in 1925 was Sapper George Smith, who wore the Military Medal and Mons Star, whose distinctions were gained when he rescued three comrades in the RE Tunnelling Corps who had been buried in a shaft by the explosion of a land mine at Givenchy in 1917. He lost a leg, having been shot in the knee. His leg was amputated by German surgeons when he was Prisoner of War.
9. Morpeth Herald reports unveiling on new site - re-dedication by Rev George Halden Earle, Vicar of Choppington unveiling by Mr T.E. Hedley president of the Choppington Branch of the British Legion. After the Second World War the names of those who fell are added and recently after the removal of the Memorial a further name was added -that of J.T. Bell who shortly after he was married was killed in the Korean War.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: 1993 J. Brown; 2003 showing damage to memorial Morris Robinson; copy photograph of dedication in 1925.
Morpeth Herald 06/02/1925 reports that 1914-18 tablets would be ready for unveiling in a few weeks' time; 11/11/1949 reports unveiling of 1939-45 additional plaques, with photograph. 02/07/1954 gives unveiling report and names Korean death. (Available on The British Newspaper Archive)
Illustrated Chronicle13/04/1925 reports unveiling with photos.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 18/04/1925 reports unveiling.
Blyth News 14/04/1925 reports unveiling.
“New Post Leader 26/11/2003 “All Our Yesterdays” column.
History of Choppington Welfare Centre by John Dawson
“Bedlington Revisited” Feb 2003 and March 2003, published by Six Townships Publications.
The Journal 28/09/2015 reports rededication following restoration.
Morpeth Herald 06/02/1925 reports that 1914-18 tablets would be ready for unveiling in a few weeks' time; 11/11/1949 reports unveiling of 1939-45 additional plaques, with photograph. 02/07/1954 gives unveiling report and names Korean death. (Available on The British Newspaper Archive)
Illustrated Chronicle13/04/1925 reports unveiling with photos.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 18/04/1925 reports unveiling.
Blyth News 14/04/1925 reports unveiling.
“New Post Leader 26/11/2003 “All Our Yesterdays” column.
History of Choppington Welfare Centre by John Dawson
“Bedlington Revisited” Feb 2003 and March 2003, published by Six Townships Publications.
The Journal 28/09/2015 reports rededication following restoration.
External web link
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
J. Brown; Wansbeck Dist. Council; Norman Brown; the late Morris Robinson; John Dawson; Bob Bell; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Monument 1914-18 1939-45 Cyprus Westgreen (C36.04)
CHOPPINGTON, Westgreen.
This tablet was erected
in honoured memory of the
following brave men of
Choppington and District
who gave their lives in their
Country's cause
World War R.W. Allen W. Gallon A.B. Parkes World War
1939 to 1945 H. Anderson H. Gibson J.A. Patterson 1939 to 1945
E.Y. Adamson J. Atherton S. Gibson W. Phillips J.G. Parker
A.J. Crammond D. Atkinson H.H. Golden J. Redpath N. Redpath
T.W. Dinsdale G.L. Atkinson R.W. Golden E. Richardson R. Rice
T.R. Johnson T. Banks G. Green T. Ridge H. Robinson
L. Joisce W. Barnes A. Hare R. Riley J. Rogers
W.C. Jordan H. Batchelor J. Hare A. Robson H. Stanton
J.M. McBride J. Briggs J. Hogg C. Robson J. Stark
R. McGregor W. Bryans T. Ingham J. Robson S. Stuart
H.R. McIntyre M. Burns J. Johnson W. Robson T. Taylor-Walker
R. Moffitt W. Burrell W.B. Johnstone P. Russell R. Twist
C.H. Nixon A. Cairns W. Joisce J. Scurfield J.C. Whitfield
H. Calvert W. Lennon H.M. Seymour
A. Chapman M.T. Locke J.W. Slaughter
W. Chrisp W. Lodge T. Smith
P. Coxon R. Mavin G. Ternent
T. Cracket L. McCluskey A. Thompson
P. Cunningham W. McGarrigle R. Thompson
J. Deane J. McIntyre M. Watson
W.J. Dickinson J.W. McKay J.W. Weatherley
L. Dixon J. Moffatt P. White
T. Dixon H.C. Moore G.J. Willis
T.W. Dobie G. Neal A. Wilson
I. Frazer S. Neal R.S. Winlow
B. French T. Neal R. Young
J. Gallon T. Neesam T.S. Young
F.W. Nichol
"May their reward be as
great as their sacrifice".
Cyprus
Wm. Lofthouse
1958
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement plaque:
In Honoured Memory of the following brave
Men of Choppington Colliery and District who
Gave their lives in their Country’s cause.
World War I
R.W. Allen W. Gallon A.B. Parkes
H. Anderson H. Gibson J.A. Patterson
J. Atherton S. Gibson W. Phillips
D. Atkinson H.H. Golden J. Redpath
G.L. Atkinson R.W. Golden E. Richardson
T. Banks G. Green T. Ridge
W. Barnes A. Hare R. Riley
H. Batchelor J. Hare A. Robson
J. Briggs J. Hogg C. Robson
W. Bryans T. Ingham J. Robson
M. Burns J. Johnson W. Robson
W. Burrell W.B. Johnstone P. Russell
A. Cairns W. Joisce J. Scurfield
H. Calvert W. Lennon H.M. Seymour
A. Chapman M.T. Locke J.W. Slaughter
W. Chrisp W. Lodge T. Smith
P. Coxon R. Mavin G. Ternent
T. Cracket L. McCluskey A. Thompson
P. Cunningham W. McGarrigle R. Thompson
J. Deane J. McIntyre M. Watson
W.J. Dickinson J.W. McKay J.W. Weatherley
L. Dixon J. Moffatt P. White
T. Dixon H.C. Moore G.J. Wills
T.W. Dobie G. Neal A. Wilson
I. Frazer S. Neal R.S. Winlow
B. French T. Neal R. Young
J. Gallon T. Neesam T.S. Young
F.W. Nichol
------------
WORLD WAR II
E.Y. Adamson H.R. McIntyre H. Stanton
A.J. Crammond R. Moffitt J. Stark
T.W. Dinsdale C.H. Nixon S. Stuart
T.R. Johnson J.G. Parker T. Taylor-Walker
L. Joisce N. Redpath R. Twist
W.C. Jordan R. Rice J.C. Whitfield
J.M. McBride H. Robinson
R. McGregor J. Rogers
------------
CYPRUS
Wm. Lofthouse
“May their reward be as great as their sacrifice”
NamesC36.04
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Parish Notes
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