Monument Burma 1941-45 St. Thomas’ Churchyard

St. Thomas the Martyr Churchyard. Barras Bridge, St. Mary’s Place (facing St.Mary’s Place)

Burma Campaign, 1941-45

Unveiled Sunday, August 18th 1991

Stone pedestal, bronze sculpture.

Burma Star Association, Tyneside and District Branch

£5,000 (Newcastle City Council Survey says £2,500 inc. erection)

Public subscription

Nick Whitmore, foundry manager of Newcastle Polytechnic Dept. of Visual & Performing Arts.

Beside the image:
When you go home
tell them of us and say
for your tomorrow
we gave our today

Below the image:
In honoured memory
of all those
from the North East
who gave their lives
in the Burma Campaigns
1941 1945

Followed by:
This memorial was erected by the Tyneside and
District Branch of the Burma Star Association
and unveiled on Sunday 18 August 1991

Memorial comprised of a pedestal 71 inches high x 26 inches wide x 17 inches deep (180cms x 66cms x 44cms) on which is the inscription in Roman letters.

Above this is a bronze head and shoulders 26 inches high x 18 inches wide (66cms x 45cms) in half relief of a man wearing the Burma soldier’s slouch hat.

The Star of Burma appears in the top left hand corner.

To the right of the head is the Kohima poem.

1. This was raised in the North East for the benefit of relatives who find it difficult to get to the Far East memorials.

Photos: Janet Brown

Evening Chronicle
30/10/1995 reports a call for an oak tree to be planted for victims of war in the Far East.

Journal
August 1991 reports unveiling.

Catalogue of Sculpture and Public memorials in Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle City Council Sept. 1992

Source of quotation:
“When you go home, tell them . . .” : On the war memorial at Kohima, Burma.

Philip Thirkell;
Janet Brown;
David Heslop (Tyne-Wear County Archaeologist);
Tony Harding

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