Memorial Details
Memorial
Book of Remembrance 1914-18 St. Ann
Reference
NUT086
Place
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Map ref
NZ 260642
Original Location
St. Ann's Church, City Road, Battle Field. Attached to north wall inside the church.
Which war
1914-18
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 7th November 1920, by Pte. Frederick Robson, dedicated by Bishop of Newcastle. See Note 8 below.
Rededicated November 12th 2006.
Memorial Description
Book of Remembrance, formerly resting on a ledge of carved oak, but now in a glass topped case dedicated to Lily Smith. The book has a wood cover, with tooled corners, and at centre is a gold diamond with the name “St.Ann” at centre.
There is a cover for the book, of neatly embroidered velvet.
The pages are highly illuminated. The signatures of several dignitaries are included on one page. There is also a tribute from Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig.
There is a cover for the book, of neatly embroidered velvet.
The pages are highly illuminated. The signatures of several dignitaries are included on one page. There is also a tribute from Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig.
Materials used
Pages are of vellum, and the covers of teak from H.M.S. "Britannia", richly ornamented by brass mounting.
Inscription
Left hand fly-leaf This / Book of / Honour / contains the / names of the / men of / St. Ann’s / Parish / Newcastle / upon Tyne.
Right hand fly leaf who have served in the / British Forces / The Royal Navy / The Army and the / Royal Air Force / from August 4th 1914 on / which day the British / Empire entered the war / on the side of the allies / against the Central / Powers, Germany / Austria, Bulgaria / and Turkey to / the Signing of Peace / in Paris on / June 28th 1919.
Next page In victory they were chivalrous / In reverses they were undaunted / Fatigue, wounds and / sickness were borne with a / signal courage and light heartedness / never excelled. / Their ambition was to / protect their homes and those dear to / them, to preserve national liberty and / safeguard the weak. / On behalf of the / Parishioners of St.Ann’s / we desire to express in this lasting / record. our tender sympathy for those / who have gone and suffered:
Next page Our pure admiration / of the courage / and tenacity of every man who has / striven, and our intense gratitude / that victory has crowned their hero- / ic deeds.
Right hand fly leaf who have served in the / British Forces / The Royal Navy / The Army and the / Royal Air Force / from August 4th 1914 on / which day the British / Empire entered the war / on the side of the allies / against the Central / Powers, Germany / Austria, Bulgaria / and Turkey to / the Signing of Peace / in Paris on / June 28th 1919.
Next page In victory they were chivalrous / In reverses they were undaunted / Fatigue, wounds and / sickness were borne with a / signal courage and light heartedness / never excelled. / Their ambition was to / protect their homes and those dear to / them, to preserve national liberty and / safeguard the weak. / On behalf of the / Parishioners of St.Ann’s / we desire to express in this lasting / record. our tender sympathy for those / who have gone and suffered:
Next page Our pure admiration / of the courage / and tenacity of every man who has / striven, and our intense gratitude / that victory has crowned their hero- / ic deeds.
Names
1,560 men of the parish who served, with names of warships, regiments etc. in alphabetical order.
Present condition
Restored 2006. See Note 2 below.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Compiled by Rev. Canon W. Bernard East, Vicar of St.Ann’s; designed by Messrs. Hicks and Charlwood. It formerly rested on an oak bracket made by Hughes Bolckow. Drawn by Miss Elizabeth Davies of Jarrow. Cover for the book made by Mrs. Ethel Baker.
Notes
1. In the St.Anne’s Church Monthly are the following notes: August 1915, decision to compile a Roll of Honour was made public; July 1916 the first St.Anne’s fatality was announced; March 1919 the Book of Honour begun; May 1919 £50 received; October 1920 Book of Honour finished.
2. A carefully prepared Remembrance Card was produced, copies of which could be obtained from St.Ann’s vestry at a charge of sixpence each, which would go towards the Book of Honour fund.
3. This book was lost for a long time, and NEWMP asked questions about it, having been informed such a book existed. It was finally found in a safe in the ladies’ cloakroom.
4. The book has been restored by artist James Alder and rededicated November 12th 2006
5. In a booklet presented by Hughes Bolckow to their staff when the firm was taken over in 1961, there is a long piece about the break-up of the "Britannia". The salvaged material went to making up all kinds of things (see font made from a binnacle at Blyth B42.09). A sentence reads : "Folding chairs on offer were designed with wounded soldiers in mind ('their high back is very restful, but does not interfere with the hat when seated'); tea trolleys were advertised ('in hospitals and nursing homes they ease the extra work brought by the war'); and there were three patterns of memorial shrine with space for names of up to 150 dead; the names could be added 'in black at a halfpenny a letter, or in gold at a penny a letter'".
6. According to some newspaper reports, the book contains the names of over 3,000 parishioners who served.
7. Forms were delivered to every house in the parish for completion with names to insert, which would be collected later.
8. Those wishing to see the names should contact St.Ann’s Church.
2. A carefully prepared Remembrance Card was produced, copies of which could be obtained from St.Ann’s vestry at a charge of sixpence each, which would go towards the Book of Honour fund.
3. This book was lost for a long time, and NEWMP asked questions about it, having been informed such a book existed. It was finally found in a safe in the ladies’ cloakroom.
4. The book has been restored by artist James Alder and rededicated November 12th 2006
5. In a booklet presented by Hughes Bolckow to their staff when the firm was taken over in 1961, there is a long piece about the break-up of the "Britannia". The salvaged material went to making up all kinds of things (see font made from a binnacle at Blyth B42.09). A sentence reads : "Folding chairs on offer were designed with wounded soldiers in mind ('their high back is very restful, but does not interfere with the hat when seated'); tea trolleys were advertised ('in hospitals and nursing homes they ease the extra work brought by the war'); and there were three patterns of memorial shrine with space for names of up to 150 dead; the names could be added 'in black at a halfpenny a letter, or in gold at a penny a letter'".
6. According to some newspaper reports, the book contains the names of over 3,000 parishioners who served.
7. Forms were delivered to every house in the parish for completion with names to insert, which would be collected later.
8. Those wishing to see the names should contact St.Ann’s Church.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Tony Harding
Newcastle Daily Journal 08/11/1920 reports dedication.
St. Ann’s Church Monthly contains the following notes : August 1915, decision to compile a Roll of Honour was made public; July 1916 the first St.Ann’s fatality was announced; March 1919 the Book of Honour begun; May 1919 £50 received; October 1920 Book of Honour finished. Also December 1920 and November 1921.
Íllustrated Chronicle 08/11/1920 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo 08/11/1920 reports unveiling.
North Mail 25/02/1919 reports proposals.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 13/11/1920 reports dedication.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 06/11/1920 reports proposed unveiling tomorrow evening.
Evening Chronicle 11/11/2006 reports its restoration and rededication 12/11/2006.
Newcastle Daily Journal 08/11/1920 reports dedication.
St. Ann’s Church Monthly contains the following notes : August 1915, decision to compile a Roll of Honour was made public; July 1916 the first St.Ann’s fatality was announced; March 1919 the Book of Honour begun; May 1919 £50 received; October 1920 Book of Honour finished. Also December 1920 and November 1921.
Íllustrated Chronicle 08/11/1920 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo 08/11/1920 reports unveiling.
North Mail 25/02/1919 reports proposals.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 13/11/1920 reports dedication.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 06/11/1920 reports proposed unveiling tomorrow evening.
Evening Chronicle 11/11/2006 reports its restoration and rededication 12/11/2006.
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
P. Thirkell; J. Brown; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
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Book of Remembrance 1914-18 St. Ann (NUT086)
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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