Memorial Details

NEWMP Memorial Image
Photo: Tony Harding

Memorial

Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Town Centre

Reference

H24.01

Place

HAYDON BRIDGE

Map ref

NY 843643

Original Location

Originally at one end of the bridge.

Present Location

Town Centre, outside St. Cuthbert's Church.

Which war

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date

a. Unveiled Sept. 25th 1921 by General Sir Loftus Bates, dedicated by Rev. T.B. Trantor. b. 1948

Memorial Description

Statue of soldier, a Northumberland Fusilier in full fighting kit, on a pedestal 127 x 110 cm., total height approx. 4m. The dedication is on a sunken panel on the main pedestal, using incised Roman capitals.
Two cast metal plaques on the wall on either side give details from 1914-18. The names are listed in two columns on each plaque, raised in casting, using serif capitals.
On the front of the pedestal, below the dedication, is another plaque 16.5cm high x 72cm wide giving details of those killed in 1939-45, with the names listed in two columns, the lettering in raised Roman capitals.

Materials used

Bronze statue on stone plinth, with cast iron.

Inscription

a. In proud and / loving memory / of the men of the / parish of Haydon / who gave their lives / for King and Country / in the Great War / 1914-1919.
b. Also in memory of those who fell 1939-1945.

Names

Who commissioned

Parish War Memorial Committee (Chairman, Mr. Ainger; Secretary, Mr. W.W. Ridley, Treasurer, Mr. Swalton).

Cost

a. £475 for figure; £425 for surround including tablets and laying on of gas; Architect's fee £72.

Present condition

The statue had been subjected to some vandalism, but the removal from the old site to the new afforded opportunity for repair.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer

Designed by Mr. Charlewood, Architect; made by Mr. Aves

Ownership and maintenance

The memorial was handed over to Parish Council at the unveiling ceremony.

Notes

1 . Among initial proposals for a memorial were (i) a recreation ground;
(ii) a hospital;
(iii) Mrs. Bates promised 1½ acres of land for cottages for widows and dependants of the fallen.

2 . The statue was moved on 21st June 1969 by the Northumberland County Council Bridges section to the present site when a new bridge was built. The site had become inappropriate for holding Armistice Day parades due to increase in road traffic.

3. From the parish, 350 joined the colours; 57 men were killed, of whom four earned the Military Medal; five were commissioned officers and 21 were non-commissioned officers.

Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material

Photos: P. Thirkell; old postcard: Tony Harding

Hexham Courant 08/12/1919 reports initial proposals; 12/04/1919 reports decision to erect a monument; 06/11/1998 feature Fifty years on reports unveiling of 1939-45 plaque.

Newcastle Daily Journal 20/09/1920 carries a letter wondering whether the men of Haydon Bridge were to be forgotten, since it was two years since peace was signed.

Illustrated Chronicle 26/09/1921 reports unveiling with photos.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 01/10/1921 reports unveiling.

Hexham Weekly News 30/09/1921 reports unveiling.

Northumberland Record Office Minutes of meetings of Parish War Memorial Committee Ref. PC38/65.

Newcastle Central Library War Memorial repairs (Local Biog. Vol.12 page 260)

At the Going Down of the Sun"Derek Boorman.

Imperial War Museum photograph in Mr. Saggers' Collection

Morpeth County Library Frith collection of photographs showing memorial in its original position; Postcard collection shows similar view.

Diocese of Newcastle Faculty 2529 07/05/1968 allowed placing of memorial in churchyard following removal from original site.

External web link

Research acknowledgements

Janet Brown; P. Thirkell; Mr. J. Bond; Imperial War Museum.; M. Newrick; Rev. Alan Bill; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall

Research In Progress

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

Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Town Centre (H24.01)

 
HAYDON BRIDGE, Outside St. Cuthbert's Church.
  
   In proud and 
   loving memory 
   of the men of the 
   parish of Haydon 
   who gave their lives 
   for king and Country 
   in the Great War 
   1914-1919.
 ----------------------------------------------------
First plaque: left hand column
 
   G.M. Anderson        Pte.      E. Yorks Regt.     
   J. Armstrong         Sergt.    Northd. Fus.       
   J. Archbold          2nd Lieut R.F.A.             
   J.G. Barron          Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   J. Batey             Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   W. Batey             Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   H.D. Bell            Guardsman Grenadier Guards   
   J.J. Birnie          Cpl.      Northd. Fus.       
   J.M. Birnie          Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   W.D. Brown           Pte.      Royal Dublin Fus.  
   E.J. Brown           Sergt.    Northd. Fus.       
   Winifred Carrick     Nurse     V.A.D.             
   N. Charlton          L/Sergt.  Northd. Fus.       
   W. Charlton          Pte.      K.O.Y.L.I.         
----------------------------------------------------
First plaque: right hand column

    
   T.B. Cowing          Pte.      Northd. Fus.
   B. Cuffe, M.M.       Sergt.    Northd. Fus.
   J. Curry             Pte.      Northd. Fus.
   N. Davidson          L/Cpl.    Northd. Fus.
   M.S. Dove            Pte.      Worcestershire Regt.
   W.I. Douglas         Pte.      Northd. Fus.
   J. Gibson            Lieut.    Yorkshire Regt.
   W. Glendinning       Sergt.    Northd. Fus.
   J. Henderson M.M.    L/Cpl.    Northd. Fus.
   H.L. Heslop          Capt.     R.A.M.C.
   J.P. Hutchinson      Pte.      Northd Fus.
   R.G. Irwin           Pte.      M.G.C.
   J.W. Johnstone, M.M. Pte.      Northd. Fus.
   W. Kennedy           Pte.      Northd Fus.
----------------------------------------------------
Second plaque: left hand column
     
   E. Kershaw           Pte.      R.A.M.C.           
   T.W. Kindred         L/Cpl.    Northd. Fus.       
   F. Kirby             Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   E. Kirton            Pte.      Canadians          
   M. Kirton            Cpl.      Canadians          
   C. Law               Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   F. Lee               L/Cpl.    Northd. Fus.       
   R.G. Little          Sergt.    Northd. Fus.       
   F. McGurk            L/Cpl.    Northd. Fus.       
   W. Paxton            Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   H. Pearson           Cpl.      Northd. Fus.       
   A.M. Phillipson      Cpl.      Grenadier Guards   
   R.G. Rayner          Lieut.    Northd. Fus.       
   J.W. Reed            Pte.      Northd. Fus.       
   J. Robson            Pte.      Northd. Hussars
----------------------------------------------------
Second plaque: right hand column

    
   J. Robinson          Cpl      Northd. Fus.
   J.E. Robinson        Pte.     Northd. Fus.
   J.W. Robinson        Cpl.     Grenadier Guards
   M. Southern          2nd Lieut East Yorks. Regt.
   T. Sowerby           Pte.     Northd. Fus.
   L. Spark             Pte.     Northd. Fus.
   W. Spark             Pte.     West Yorks Regt.
   M. Stobbart          Pte.     Northd. Fus.
   J. Stonehouse        Pte.     Northd. Fus.
   E. Taylor, M.M.      Col.     Northd. Fus.
   C. Thomson           Sergt.   Northd. Fus.
   J. Todd              Bombardier, R.F.A.
   J.N. Turnbull        Pte.     Northd. Fus.
   T.A. Willan          Rfm.     Qns. Westminster Rif.
----------------------------------------------------
Third plaque 1939-45
  
   Also in memory of those who fell 1939-1945. 

    
Left hand column
   J. Armstrong D.C.M.  Pte.      Green Hds.           
   T.F. Bell            L/Cpl.    R.N.F.               
   J.E. Brown           L/Cpl.    R.N.F.               
   A. Bates             Pte.      K.O.S.B.             
   P. Brown             Pte.      D.L.I.               
   C.S. Clemitson       Chief Officer M.N.             
   T. Gilmore           A.C.1.    R.A.F.               
   I. Law               Sgt.      R.A.F.V.R.           
----------------------------------------------------

    
Right hand column
   J.S. Mason           Fus.      R.N.F.
   I.H. Philipson       L.A.C.    R.A.F.
   J.H. Ridley          Pte.      Dorset Regt.
   C.J. Patterson       Tpr.      R.A.C.
   R.G. Patterson       Pte.      P.C.
   A.B. Reed            Stoker    P.O. R.N.
   J.C. Wylie           Stoker    R.N.
   O. Wardle            Sgt.      R.A.F.V.R.
NamesH24.01 

You are looking at all the information and the best images we have so far on this memorial. If you can supply more information or better images please get in touch by sending an email to enquiries@newmp.org.uk.

Parish Notes

Every Name A Story