Memorial Details
Memorial
Peace column South Africa 1899-1902 Saltwell Park
Reference
G39.017
Place
GATESHEAD
Map ref
NZ 254608
Original Location
Saltwell Park
Which war
South Africa 1899-1902
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 11th November 1905 by General Sir John French, K.C.B. at 3.30p.m.
Memorial Description
Statue of "Peace", total height 26 feet, with arms raised to hold aloft a laurel wreath and wings outstretched, poised on a square, tapered granite pedestal. At the top of each side of the pedestal is a carved rounded shield joined to one another on all sides by swags.
The dedication is incised on the front of the pedestal and the names are on the sides. The whole stands on a base of freestone steps with raised flowerbeds round the base.
The dedication is incised on the front of the pedestal and the names are on the sides. The whole stands on a base of freestone steps with raised flowerbeds round the base.
Materials used
Bronze statue, granite base, freestone steps.
Inscription
South African War / 1899-1902 / In grateful remembrance of the / Gateshead men who lost their / lives in their Country's Service. / This memorial was / erected by their Fellow / Townsmen, October 1905
How sleep the brave who sink to rest, / by all their Country's wishes blest, / By fairy hands their knell is rung, / by forms unseen their dirge is sung (Collins, Lines in 1746).
How sleep the brave who sink to rest, / by all their Country's wishes blest, / By fairy hands their knell is rung, / by forms unseen their dirge is sung (Collins, Lines in 1746).
Names
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Mr. Francis W. Doyle-Jones, Sculptor of West Hartlepool and Chelsea.
Notes
1. W.B.S. Leathart, whose name also appears on the monument at Low Fell, was the son of James Leathart of Brackendene House, Low Fell, who was a patron of the Pre-Raphaelites. (Len Dent)
2. One description of this says that the statue of “Peace” is life-sized. Presumably, they mean “human” size.
3. Gateshead sent 900 men to fight, Reservists and volunteers. Their wives and dependants were cared for by the Gateshead Branch of the Northumberland and Tyneside Reservists Fund, which spent £14,387, all of which was raised by voluntary subscription.
4. Gateshead Borough initiated the movement which resulted in the Government giving pensions to widows and orphans of those who fell or died from wounds.
2. One description of this says that the statue of “Peace” is life-sized. Presumably, they mean “human” size.
3. Gateshead sent 900 men to fight, Reservists and volunteers. Their wives and dependants were cared for by the Gateshead Branch of the Northumberland and Tyneside Reservists Fund, which spent £14,387, all of which was raised by voluntary subscription.
4. Gateshead Borough initiated the movement which resulted in the Government giving pensions to widows and orphans of those who fell or died from wounds.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: C. Sanders; Ron Carson; Len Dent; Dorothy Hall; old postcards; John S. Perry; Tony Harding
Newcastle Daily Leader 05/09/1901 reports proposal to erect a monument and "Gateshead Council did not move with such celerity that there was any likelihood of a monument being finished before the war really ended"; 13/11/1905 reports the unveiling ceremony
4th Royal Warwickshire Regiment For remembrance and in honour of those who lost their lives in the South African War 1899-1902. James Gildea, Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1911.
Newcastle Central Library Photo c1910
A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear (Ayris, Jubb, Palmer, Usherwood, Specialist Conservation Team Publication, 1996).
Source of quotation
“How sleep the brave who sink to rest . . .” Ode written in the year 1746 William Collins.
Newcastle Daily Leader 05/09/1901 reports proposal to erect a monument and "Gateshead Council did not move with such celerity that there was any likelihood of a monument being finished before the war really ended"; 13/11/1905 reports the unveiling ceremony
4th Royal Warwickshire Regiment For remembrance and in honour of those who lost their lives in the South African War 1899-1902. James Gildea, Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1911.
Newcastle Central Library Photo c1910
A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear (Ayris, Jubb, Palmer, Usherwood, Specialist Conservation Team Publication, 1996).
Source of quotation
“How sleep the brave who sink to rest . . .” Ode written in the year 1746 William Collins.
External web link
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
P. Thirkell; Ethel and the late Neville Armstrong, Whickham and District L.H.S.; Mrs. Nan Smith; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; C. Sanders; Ron Carson; Errol Broomfield; Len Dent; John S. Perry; Tony Harding
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Peace column South Africa 1899-1902 Saltwell Park (G39.017)
GATESHEAD Saltwell Park
Gordon Highlanders
Private R. Hall
“ “ H. Skae
------
South African War Durham Light Infantry
1899-1902 Corporal S. Nicholson
Private J. Arkless
“ “ T. Bradley
In grateful remembrance of the “ “ J. Connor
Gateshead men who lost their “ “ J. Callaghan
lives in their Country's Service. “ “ E. Dixon (Vol.Coy)
This memorial was “ “ F. Duffy
erected by their Fellow “ “ A. Farren
Townsmen, October 1905 “ “ J. Forrest
“ “ J. Finneran
“ “ E. Harwood
“ “ S. Jones (Vol.Coy)
“ “ W. Mason
------ “ “ T. Marley
“ “ G. McGlone
How sleep the brave who sink to rest, “ “ J. Monoghan
By all their Country's wishes blest, “ “ G. Morris
By fairy hands their knell is rung, “ “ G. Plotnicki
By forms unseen their dirge is sung. “ “ T. Ryan
Collins, Lines in 1746. “ “ R. Rigg
“ “ P. Scullion
“ “ H. Sellers
“ “ R.H. Whitfield (Vol.Coy)
“ “ G. Woodcock
Bugler K. Cumming
------
Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders
Private P. Cailey
------
Lothians and Berwickshire
Yeomanry
Lieut. W.G. Angus
--------------------------------------------------
7th Dragoon Guards Royal Engineers
Private H. Senior Private J.R. Cowan
------ Sapper P. Hoay
10th Royal Hussars ------
Private T.W. Hornsey Coldstream Guards
“ “ H. Watson Private A. Moad
------ ------
12th Royal Lancers King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Corporal A. Yeats Private - Huggins
------ “ “ J. Thew
Imperial Yeomanry ------
Quarter Master Sergt. J.F.Murray King’s Own Royal Lancasters
Sergeant W. Crone Private A.H. Spurgeon
“ “ J. Middlemiss ------
Lance Corporal J.J. Nugent Northumberland Fusiliers
“ “ A.W.C. Williamson Corporal H. Sinclair
Corporal J. White Private J. Campbell
Trooper A. Bell “ “ T. Coulson
“ “ A. Dodd “ “ R. Cullen
“ “ F. English “ “ B. Hodson
“ “ T. Hope “ “ W. Johnson
“ “ W.B.S. Leathart “ “ J. Loan
“ “ H. Sturgeon “ “ H. McCarrick
“ “ C. Taaffe “ “ E. Neilson
“ “ A. Thompson “ “ F.W. Pitcher (Vol.Coy)
“ “ J. Waugh “ “ M. Redhead
------ “ “ J. Steel
General Brabant’s Light Horse “ “ W.J. Wakefield
Trooper W.L.P. Smith “ “ E. Wakefield
“ “ H. Waugh
------
------ Prince of Wales Own (West)
Border Horse Yorkshire Regiment
Trooper J. O’Shaughnessy Lance Corporal T. Dodd
------ ------
Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts King’s Own Yorkshire
Private T. Hall Light Infantry
------ Private J. Richardson
Royal Field Artillery ------
Gunner J. McKinnon Imperial Light Infantry
“ “ J. Sheridan (Vol.Coy) Private C.F. Snaith
NamesG39.17
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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