Photocopy of photograph from unknown source
Memorial
Monument South Africa 1899-1902 St. Mary R.C.
Reference
NUT038
Place
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Map ref
NZ 244638
Original Location
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral. Clayton Street West / Bewick Street. On south side of west door.
Present Location
Unknown
Which war
South Africa 1899-1902
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
1903?
Memorial Description
'The monument, of solid white marble, is of very impressive character. Oblong in shape, it is adorned with appropriate figures, emblematical chiefly of the sorrows of warfare. From the apex of the tall commanding angular towers, of which one has been artistically erected at each corner, to the base, the monument stands 13 feet high, it is nine feet long, and 4 feet 6 inches in width. Prominent at either end are figures, in full uniform, representing privates in the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Durham Light Infantry, immediately beneath which are carved in relief the badges of those two regiments. Placed in the centre of the four cone-shaped columns is a trophy of arms, accoutrements and flags, adjacent to and reaching over which are two female figures, in an attitude of mourning. On the roof of the monument are the figures of two angels, while around the outside have been carved on slabs of artistic design, the names of the campaigns in which the “Fighting Fifth” and the Durhams have been engaged. The carving throughout is of a chaste and ornate character.'
Materials used
White marble
Inscription
(This monument is erected to perpetuate the memory of the gallant men of Her Majesty’s naval, military and auxiliary forces, who, fighting gloriously in South Africa and elsewhere, nobly laid down their lives in the cause of their Queen and Country.)
Names
None
How money was raised
Mr. R.O. Lamb
Present condition
Lost, but see Note 2 below.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Designed by Messrs. Dunn and Hansom; built by Mr. Robert Beall
Notes
1. Reading the report, it seems to imply that this monument might have been part of the Baptistry which was created at the same time. This cost £1,400, of which Mr. Lamb gave £600.
2. The trophy of arms, mentioned in the description, was in Fenham Barracks, having been found in a barn and unidentified at the time and is now at Anzio House. See
F31.13
3. A soldier figure in St. Mary’s in reputed to be from this memorial, but this is highly unlikely. The figures are not mentioned in the description, and they do not feature in the photograph.
4. The memorial was demolished during the re-ordering of St. Mary’s in the 1980s to make way for a new entrance.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photocopy of photograph of monument. Photo of soldier statuette: J. Brown
St.George’s Gazette 28/02/1903 includes the description above.
St. Mary’s R.C.Cathedral Vincent Bartley page 3 gives the information in Note 4 above.
Research acknowledgements
J. Brown; Tom Hewitson; T. Harding; Kevin Milburn
Research In Progress
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Monument South Africa 1899-1902 St. Mary R.C. (NUT038)
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story