Memorial

Statue South Africa 1899-1902 Durham Road

Low Fell

Memorial Name: Statue South Africa 1899-1902 Durham Road (L61.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: L61.01

Parish: Low Fell

Original Location:

Outside Post Office, Durham Road.

Which War:

1899-1902

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

1903

Materials Used:

Marble on sandstone base from Heworth Burn Quarries supplied by Messrs. Boiston

Who Commissioned:

Inhabitants of Low Fell

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Messrs. Morrison and McBean, monumental sculptors, Gateshead.

Inscription:

To
the memory of
(names)
who fell during the South
African Campaign
1899-1902
“Faithful unto death”
erected by
the inhabitants of Low Fell
1903
The above mentioned
were all of the
Imperial Yeomanry.

Memorial Description:

Statue of soldier in the uniform of the Imperial Yeomanry on rough tapering stone pedestal.

The pedestal weighs six tons.

The front has an inset marble panel, rectangular with rounded corners, which bears the dedication in san serif capitals.

Names:

5 surnames and initials, one officer and 4 men.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The story is that the statue was modelled on the sergeant who was killed.

2. W.B.S. Leathart was the son of James Leathart of Brackendene House, Low Fell, who was a patron of the Pre-Raphaelites. (Len Dent).

3. Mentioned in despatches were: Lieut. Hill for “very marked gallantry”; Capt. G.D. Laing, (Medical officer); Lieut. S. Baldwin; Sgt. E. Howse; Cpl. W. Crone (promoted to Sergeant) and Trooper V. Hale (promoted to Corporal, all of 5th Imperial Yeomanry.

4. From Low Fell, 12 men went to serve in South Africa. Six returned safely, one remained in South Africa and the other five died.

5. The inscription was repaired and restored by Gateshead Council in 1967. The rifle had been broken off by vandals in 1986, and the memorial was again repaired.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Len Dent; Arthur Wilson, Ken Blythe; old postcards Simon Raine; George Nairn

Durham Chronicle
30/10/1903 reports unveiling.

Gateshead Post
10/12/1965 reports that some of the names are completely eroded;
27/01/67 reports the proposed repairs at a cost of £50.

Newcastle Leader
05/03/1903 reports granting of permission to erect the memorial.

Newcastle Central Library
Illustration c1910.

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.

The history of the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry, 1819-1919, edited H. Pease; London, Constable, 1924

History of Gateshead F.W.D. Manders; 1973, page 303

A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear Ayris, Jubb, Palmer, Usherwood, Specialist Conservation Team Publication, 1996.

Source of quotation
“Faithful unto death” Revelation 2 v 10

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

P. Thirkell;
Ethel and Neville Armstrong, Whickham & District L.H.S.Society;
Mrs. Nan Smith;
Len Dent;
C. Sanders;
Tony Harding;
George Nairn;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Dorothy Hall;
Arthur Wilson