Memorial Details

NEWMP Memorial Image
Photo: Simon Raine

Memorial

Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Rugby Football Club

Reference

H115.10

Place

HARTLEPOOL

Original Location

Rugby Football Club

Which war

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date

a. Unveiled 23rd April 1921 by R.F. Oakes, Hon. Sec. Yorkshire County Rugby Union.
b. Unveiled 28/11/1953 by Mr A.G. Murrell president of Rovers, dedicated by Rev W.S. Cowans former Rector of Hartlepool.

Memorial Description

Plaque in ornate oak frame surmounted by a crest in half relief. There are swags at either side. At the bottom is a wreath carved in half relief containing a ?lion. The dedication is incised in the wood above the plaque. The main plaque is of bronze, and lists the names in three columns, those from 1914-18 occupying the two left hand columns and those from 1939-45 on the right. The two lists are divided by a white vertical line. The lettering is in white Roman capitals.

Materials used

Bronze plaque on oak pattress.

Inscription

To the memory of those / of the Rovers Club who / gave their lives for / their King and Country.

Names

Notes

1. It seems likely that the oak plaque bore a dedication for 1914-18 only at first, then was altered to allow for the names from 1939-45 to be added.

2. The Committee of the Hartlepool Rovers F.C. decided to acquire permanent headquarters as a war memorial. An option to purchase “Greencliffe”, which overlooks the Friarage Field, has been obtained, and the proposal is to raise “£2,000 to carry out the scheme.” They proposed to install a tablet in memory of those who fell; install suitable changing and bathing facilities, and to fit up club and billiard rooms.

3. "'The old, well-patronised Stand in Clarence Road was reduced to a hopeless mass of wreckage by the second Zeppelin as it lightened its cargo of bombs while racing for dear life from the pursuing flashlight, the exploding shell and the daring aeroplane, to reach the untroubled atmosphere of the North Sea.'

Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material

Photo: Simon Raine

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 17/04/1920 reports proposals and a public notice of appeal; 22/04/1921 reports unveiling prior to the match on Saturday. 25/11/1953 gives notice; 28/11/1953 reports unveiling today with photo. (Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Northern Echo 19/04/1920 reports proposal in Note 1 above.

The Hartlepools and the Great War Source of note 3, page 261.

History of Rovers 1879-1979. Hartlepool Rovers Football Club. Fred Lister c1980.

External web link

Research acknowledgements

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall

Research In Progress

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Rugby Football Club (H115.10)

 
   To the memory of those 
   of the Rovers Club who 
   gave their lives for 
   their King and Country.
  
   1914 - 1919                       1939 - 1945

    
   J.B. Bennett    J. Pearson        D. Baird
   J. Broadhead    R.P. Purves       H.E. Bradshaw
   W.A. Bradley    F. Paterson       G. Cassie
   H. Boulton      J. Perry          J. Cutler
   W.H. Coghlan    J.H. Robinson     J. Fenny
   R.T. Casebourne T.E.S. Robson     R. Judge
   H. Dunbavand    G. Readman        A. Lightfoot
   A.J. Dingle     R.H. Robson       P. Lupton
   A. Davison      F.E.N. Townsend   W.A. MacFarlane
   J. Donkin       A. Todd           J.H. Nicholson
   J.H.T. Farrow   N. Vaudray        R.H.L. Oakes
   C.O. Farrow     J. Wilson         T. Purnell
   G.R. Fausett    J. Whitford       W.A. Robertson
   M. Gibson       B. Withy          J. Ritchie
   J. Hessler                        S. Scott
   N. Hessler                        J. Scott
   B.W. Hood                         J. Spence
   E. Moore                          T.S. Short
   J.C. MacFarlane                   G. Sivewright
---------------------------------------------------
The list given in LISTER, Fred. History of Rovers 1879-1979. 
Hartlepool Rovers Football Club, c.1980 has differences:
                                      1939-1945
   J. Bennett        J. Pearson       D. Baird
   J. Broadhead      R.P. Purvis      H.E. Bradshaw
   W.A. Bradley      F. Paterson      G. Cassie
   M. Boulton        J. Perry         J. Cutler
   W.H. Coghlan      J.H. Robinson    J. Fenny
   R.T. Casebourne   T.E.S. Robson    R Judge
   H. Dunbavand      G. Readman       A. Lightfoot
   A.J. Dingle       R.H. Robson      P. Lupton
   A. Davison        F.E.N. Townsend  W.A. MacFarlane
   J. Donkin         A. Todd          J.H. Nicholson
   J. Farrow         N. Vaudray       R.H.L. Oakes
   C. Farrow         J. Wilson        T. Purnell
   C.R. Fausett      J. Whitford      W.A. Robertson
   M. Gibson         B. Withy         J. Ritchie
   J. Hessler                         S. Scott
   N. Hessler                         J. Scott
   B.W. Hood                          J. Spence
   E. Moore                           T.S. Short
   J.C. McFarlane                     G. Sivewright
   
   Our pride is in your sacrifice know that we “carry on”
NamesH115.10   

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Parish Notes

Every Name A Story