Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Cemetery
Reference
C52.01
Place
CORBRIDGE
Map ref
NY 984639
Original Location
Cemetery
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled October 1921.
b. 1948
b. 1948
Memorial Description
Cross of Gothic design, overall height 28 feet (12m.) Substantial stone pedestal surmounted by a cross on tapering 9 feet high shaft. The pedestal is 3 feet 6 inches high and 34 inches wide, the corners chamfered and decorated. Sunken panels on the main faces bear the inscriptions, the dedication at the front, with names in two columns below. The names and ranks in two columns also appear in the other sunken panels. All lettering is in plain lead letters. The top of the pedestal is decorated with a wild rose design with acanthus leaves, surmounted by a castellated top. The whole stands on a series of four octagonal steps.
Materials used
Stone
Inscription
a. This memorial was erected by the / Parents and Friends of the men from the / parishes of Corbridge, Dilston, Halton and / Whittington who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 /
b. also during the war 1939-1945. /
'Greater love hath no man than this' / They died that we might live.
b. also during the war 1939-1945. /
'Greater love hath no man than this' / They died that we might live.
Names
Who commissioned
Parents and friends
Cost
c£800
How money was raised
Public subscription.
Present condition
Restored in 1990s
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Designed by Mr. W.W. Woods, Newcastle; made by Mr. Robert Beall, Sculptor, High Level Bridge, Newcastle;
Ownership and maintenance
Corbridge Parish Council were initiating moves in 1995.
Notes
1. From the inscriptions, it is not clear which names represent which war. Possibly, the names from 1939-45 were added to the front panel.
2. Hexham Courant 28/12/1918 reports that at the first public meeting to discuss a memorial, only the Committee turned up.
3. The erection of a recreation hall was agreed as a memorial, and Major Beaumont offered land on which to build it. It was also suggested that they purchase the Town Hall as an amenities hall. However, all were rejected because a questionnaire circulated throughout the town had produced little response.
Another proposal was for outdoor recreation facilities, such as cricket field, tennis courts, bowling green.
4. Corbridge Parish Council rejected the offer of a German gun as a war trophy.
5. The plaques which were eroding have been covered with new stone panels which are in good condition.
6. The cross was described as “one of the finest in the north of England”.
7. The memorial was called the “Relatives War Memorial” as it had been mainly paid for by the kith and kin of the fallen.
2. Hexham Courant 28/12/1918 reports that at the first public meeting to discuss a memorial, only the Committee turned up.
3. The erection of a recreation hall was agreed as a memorial, and Major Beaumont offered land on which to build it. It was also suggested that they purchase the Town Hall as an amenities hall. However, all were rejected because a questionnaire circulated throughout the town had produced little response.
Another proposal was for outdoor recreation facilities, such as cricket field, tennis courts, bowling green.
4. Corbridge Parish Council rejected the offer of a German gun as a war trophy.
5. The plaques which were eroding have been covered with new stone panels which are in good condition.
6. The cross was described as “one of the finest in the north of England”.
7. The memorial was called the “Relatives War Memorial” as it had been mainly paid for by the kith and kin of the fallen.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: K. & D. Southern; P. Thirkell; old postcard: Tony Harding
Hexham Courant 28/12/1918 reports failure of first public meeting; 27/09/1919 reports rejection of purchase of recreation and town halls; 30/12/1919 reports rejection of German war trophies; 03/03/1995 and 04/08/1995 report Parish Council concern over condition of memorial; 04/10/1996 feature 75 years ago reports unveiling. 06/11/1998 feature 50 years ago reports unveiling of 1939-45 plaque.
Illustrated Chronicle 20/09/1921 reports proposed unveiling following a service in the Market Place; 22/09/1921 says that the whole ceremony will be in the cemetery; 26/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 01/10/1921 reports unveiling.
Hexham Weekly News 28/02/1919 reports rejection of recreation building proposals; 30/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 24/02/1919 reports proposals and voting; 24/09/1919 reports further debate; 22/09/1921 reports proposed unveiling tomorrow, although the reports carries the names on the lychgate; 26/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Sources of quotations
“Greater love hath no man” St. John’s Gospel 15 v 1;
“They died that we might live” From the poem "Hail and Farewell" by John Oxenham
Hexham Courant 28/12/1918 reports failure of first public meeting; 27/09/1919 reports rejection of purchase of recreation and town halls; 30/12/1919 reports rejection of German war trophies; 03/03/1995 and 04/08/1995 report Parish Council concern over condition of memorial; 04/10/1996 feature 75 years ago reports unveiling. 06/11/1998 feature 50 years ago reports unveiling of 1939-45 plaque.
Illustrated Chronicle 20/09/1921 reports proposed unveiling following a service in the Market Place; 22/09/1921 says that the whole ceremony will be in the cemetery; 26/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 01/10/1921 reports unveiling.
Hexham Weekly News 28/02/1919 reports rejection of recreation building proposals; 30/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 24/02/1919 reports proposals and voting; 24/09/1919 reports further debate; 22/09/1921 reports proposed unveiling tomorrow, although the reports carries the names on the lychgate; 26/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Sources of quotations
“Greater love hath no man” St. John’s Gospel 15 v 1;
“They died that we might live” From the poem "Hail and Farewell" by John Oxenham
External web link
Research acknowledgements
Ken and Dorothy Southern; P. Thirkell; J. Brown; Huw Wright; C.N. Dallison; Derick Tiffin (Corbridge Parish Council); Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Cemetery (C52.01)
CORBRIDGE, Cemetery.
This memorial was erected
by the Parents and Friends
of the men from the parishes
of Corbridge, Dilston, Halton
and Whittington who fell
in the Great War 1914-1918
also during the war 1939-1945.
'Greater love hath no man
than this'
They died that we might live.
Pte. Angus M.G. Serg. Hall J.D.
Major Barnett D. Tpr. Hawkins, F.W.
Pte. Best C.F. Tpr. Hogg, A.C.
Pte. Best F.W. Pte. Humphrey H.M.
F.Lt. Binks G.J. 2/Lt. Johnston J.S.
L.Serg. Clark, R. A/B Nicholson, R.
Lieut. Cochran-Carr W.R.P. Pte. Sanderson, B.
W/O. Dixon, H. Tpr. Smith, A.Mc.P.
Pte. Duncan C.H. S/Ldr. Smith L.E.
Serg. Elliott J.R. E.R.A. Stone A.J.
Serg. Foreman R.W. Pte. Wood A.
P/O Gray W. Mne. Wood A.
Spr. Best F.
------------------------------------------
Left side :
Coldstreams Canadians
Pte. Goodyear E. L/Corp. Lawson, J.G.
Charlton, J.W. Pte. Amos J.R.
Dent, M.
Beds. Regt.
Lieut. Turnbull, W.A. M.G.C.
Major Ellerington R. M.C.
Royal Scots
Pte. Rogerson R. R.M.S.
Eng. Nicholson J.T.
Gren. Gds.
Pte. Parker H.G. R.E.
Lieut. Burns G.W.
S. Wales Bords. L/Corp. Hudspith T.W.
Lieut. Lee J.W.
R. Inniskilling Fus.
Australians Pte. Crozier W.
Pte. Aldred H.W.
Armstrong H. Lancs. Fusiliers
Mitchison M. Pte. Buddles J.
Davis H.
S. Africans
Capt. Ward A.E. M.C. E. Kent
Pte. Oswald W.
------------------------------------------
Back :
Pte. Cade C.E.
N.F. Cade, J.E.
Major Noble T.G. Charlton, E.
Capt. Dodds W.M. Dixon, J.
Laing D.O. Douglass E.W.
Laing G.O. Ellison G.T.
Co.Q.M.S.Allcroft W. Ellison J.S.
Serg. Allcroft M. Featherstone J.W.
Forster S Gibb R.A.
Goodson H. Gibbin H.
Jackson J. Greener N.
Robson J.W. Hall J.
Scott V.E. Hamilton Ed.
Scott T. M.M. Hardy, R.W.
Wade W. Hornsby R.
Corp. Armstrong R. Hudspith H.
Chambers J. Jowsey A.
Cuthbert W. Longstaff T.
Heslop E.D. Longstaff J.L.
Logan J.A. Lowes N.
L/Corp. Maddison F.L. Marshall I.D.
Martinson M. Naitby A.
Pearson J.A. Nicholson T.
Portlock W.A.M. Robson J.
Pte. Atkin R. Robson G.D.
Bowman C. M.M. Robson F.
Bowman F.R. Robson E.H.
Blackburn W. Robinson J.
Boyd J.T. Simpson J.
Brown T. Smith T.
------------------------------------------
Back :
N.F. Yorks.
Pte. Steele R.T. Pte. Strothard J.Y.
Tate T.
Thompson W. Border Regt.
Turner J. Pte. Hetherington C.B.
Wylie A.
R.G.A.
D.L.I. Gunner Dodd R.
Capt. Bryant R.E.
Corp. Jefferson J.W. R.F.A.
L/Corp. Daniels J. Lieut. Mail F.O.
Guy W.E. Richardson F.A.
Pte. Burn W.S. Gunner Coates H.W.
Tweddell W.G.
Winder J.S. R.A.S.C.
L/Corp. Laing A.O.
W. Yorks Bell J.
Pte. Dawson W. Lamb J.C.
Jones W.
Pollard C. R.A.M.C.
Pte. Coward G.
E. Yorks. Richley T.S.
Pte. Byers B.H.
Smith N. Northd. Hussars
Tpr. Charlton J.W.
Yorks and Lancs. Dodds J.
Pte. Whitmore A.
NamesC52.01
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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