Memorial

Cross Fairless 1917 Limestone Brae Cemetery

West Allen

Memorial Name: Cross Fairless 1917 Limestone Brae Cemetery (W24.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: W24.01

Parish: West Allen

Original Location:

Limestone Brae, Burial ground, hidden away 100 yards along on the other side of the road from the chapel.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 9th October 1920 by Col. L.C. Lockhart of Hexham.
Service conducted by Rev. T. Nevison, of Allendale, in Limestone Brae Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.

Materials Used:

Sandstone.

Present Condition: Covered in lichen, but good.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Wm. Cresswell of Hexham

Inscription:

The glorious dead.

Erected by the inhabitants
of West Allen

to the memory of
Pte. J.W. Fairless 12/13 N.F.

who fell in action in France
during the Great European War
1914-1918

Great love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friends.

Memorial Description:

Cross of ecclesiastical type, total height 60 inches (152cms), with decorated top and the intertwined “I.H.S.” monogram carved in half relief at the crossing.

The cross stands on four steps, the top one being 6 inches deep (15cms), the rest 8 inches (20cms).

The words “Our Glorious Dead” are at the bottom of the stem of the cross in Gothic lettering.

The rest of the dedication is carried on the front of the top three pedestals in lead lettering using sans serif capitals.

Names:

See above.

Notes:

1. This must be one of the lonelier memorials, traced only because of the report of the unveiling in the Hexham Courant. The cemetery is not obvious from the road.

2 The Newcastle Journal 12/10/1920 reports:-
WEST ALLEN’S HERO.
The war memorial, erected public subscription of the inhabitants of West Allen, unveiled Colonel L. C. Lockhart, Hexham, is in the form ecclesiastical cross, erected in the burial ground.

On the base the cross recorded the service of the only inhabitant of this district, Private J. W. Fairless, who served in the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers, and was killed in action in France December 1917.

The memorial service was conducted by Rev T. Nevison, of Allendale, in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Limestone Brae.

Those present included Major Lockhart, Mr H.F. Lockhart, Councillor Thomas Johnson, Thomas Forster, and F. Reed; Captain Thomas Doyle, West Allen; Captain C. Ramaden, London; Mr T. W. Proud, Mr W. Armstrong, Mr T. Hindmarsh, Mr J. Coulson, Mr A. Armstrong, Mr J. J. Martin (hon. Secretary) and the Comrades of the Great War, Whitfield and West Allen branches.

3. See his Every Name A Story entry

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: J. Brown; T. Harding

Hexham Courant
23/10/1920 reports unveiling.

Hexham Weekly News
15/10/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Journal
12/10/1920 reports unveiling

Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man than this . . .” St. John 15 v 13