Memorial Details

Stained Glass Window Wakenshaw V.C. 1942 St. Mary R.C.

NUT166

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

NZ 244639

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral. Clayton Street West / Bewick Street.

1939-45

Unveiled June 2004 by Rt. Rev. Kevin Dunn, new bishop of the diocese of Newcastle and Hexham.

Stained glass window of two lights with traceried top each 8 feet (2.6m) high x 2 feet (608mm) wide. "It tells the story of Adam Wakenshaw from his humble beginnings in Newcastle to his death in the deserts of North Africa".
It tells his story from humble beginnings in Newcastle, to his death in North Africa. The stained glass window, comprising two panels, was selected after a public competition organised by Northern Arts. The 2-light window is situated on the south side of the Cathedral. It was the first new stained glass window in St Mary's for more than 100 years and it replaced a window damaged during the bombing of Newcastle by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War.

At the base of the left-hand window is a terraced street in Newcastle with the Tyne Bridge in the background. The bridge was built between 1925 and 1929 when Adam Wakenshaw was growing up and it was a new landmark on the Quayside. A silhouette of St Mary's spire, where Adam was baptised and married is included, as is a map of the area where he fought with the DLI. It depicts the North African coastline, along with the location of Mersa Matruh and El Alamein.

The top of the left-hand light contains the colours seen on the horizon at sunrise, the time of day when the attack on Mersa Matruh took place. Moving across to the right-hand light, the cross originally placed on Adam Wakenshaw's grave is depicted. Bougainvillea and white roses, the flowers that decorated his two-pounder gun in El Alamein Cemetery, are also shown.

The motto of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry is also included: "Be FAITHFUL until death and I will give a crown of LIFE" (Rev 2:10). In the tracery of the window is the cap badge of the Durham Light Infantry, a representation of the Victoria Cross and a heart pierced by a sword.

Isaiah 35:1
Be faithful / until death / and I will give a crown / of life.
(Adam Wakenshaw)

See above

Public subscription.

Cate Watkinson. Watkinson Glass Associates.

1. The church was chosen because this was where Adam Wakenshaw was married.

2. The service was held on the 62nd anniversary of his death

3. He is remembered at Brancepeth B151.02, and at Newcastle on NUT157, NUT160, NUT162 and at Durham on D47.071 and in D47.014a, page 47

Photo: J. Brown

The Journal 24/06/2002 reports proposal to place a SGW commemorating Pte. Adam Wakenshaw in St. Mary’s and fund-raising concert by Lemington Male Voice Choir; 24/06/04 reports proposed unveiling 'this weekend'.

Advertising leaflet.

Beyond Praise: The Durham Light Infantrymen who were awarded the Victoria Cross; Stephen D. Shannon; County Durham Books, 1998; ISBN 1 897585 44 6

Sources of quotations:
Isaiah 35.1 "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them: and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose".
"Be thou faithful uto death Revelation 2 v 10

Tony Harding; Janet Brown

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

 

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