Memorial Details

Stained Glass Window Feggetter 1917 Presbyterian

J1.27

JESMOND (N'castle/Jesmond)

NZ 252658

John Knox Presbyterian Church, Burdon Terrace / Tankerville Terrace. In the clerestory.

This is now Jesmond United Reformed Church

1914-18

1938

Stained glass window of a single light, depicting Faith. It depicts Abraham and Isaac and is a reference to the sacrifice of a Feggetter son.

(In memory of John Feggetter, M.C., who died at Passchendaele).

See above

1. FEGGETTER, John Halifax, M.C.,
Lieut., 12/13th (Service) Battn. The Northumberland Fusiliers, son of William Feggetter, of 9, Dilston Terrace, Gosforth, Newcastle, Shipping Agent, and his wife, Amelia Stewart, daughter of William Young, of Dundee; born Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 16 June 1895; educated Rutherford College, from which he matriculated to Armstrong College in 1914, and entered the Honours School of English and Latin in 1915; was a member of the Durham University O.T.C.; obtained a commission in December 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from June 1916; took part in the operations on the Somme; was wounded at Mametz Wood 13 July following, and invalided home; on recovery, rejoined his regiment, being made Signalling Officer, and was killed in action 4 October 1917, at Broodseinde. Buried 100 yards north-west of the hamlet of Reutel. His Commanding Officer wrote: "On 4 Oct. the battalion took part in the great victory then won, and paid a heavy price. Your son accompanied Lieut.-Col. Dix as Intelligence Officer; the colonel was killed whilst leading the battalion, and I greatly fear that your son fell at the same time. He will leave a splendid record of service with the battalion. Colonel Dix thought most highly of him, as did all of us," and his Chaplain: "Your son was one of the most cheerful, fearless and conscientious men I have ever met, and is sadly missed by the officers and men of the Fusiliers, and the 'Queen's' also, with whom he frequently came in contact." A brother officer wrote: "On the morning of 4 Oct. he went up in front of the battalion to mark out the jumping-off point, and later met the companies and put them into position. . . . Always the most gallant of soldiers, he had no fear of death. His men thought the world of him, and would, and did, follow him anywhere. His coolness in danger and disregard of shell-fire had become almost proverbial in the battalion, and was a constant inspiration to all who saw him." He was awarded the Military Cross [London Gazette, 1 Jan. 1918], the official record stating: "This officer has rendered most valuable service as Battalion Signalling Officer, and in the performance of duty has shown the greatest gallantry, thereby inspiring his men with the utmost confidence and determination. He did particularly well when, during a successful attack upon the enemy's trenches, he led his signallers through the hostile barrage across ground swept by machine-gun fire, and established telephonic communication between battalion headquarters and the captured second objective within a few minutes of the enemy's trench being cleared by our leading wave. This officer rendered splendid service in reorganising men and inspiring all by his confidence and coolness under heavy shell and trench-mortar fire. After nightfall, on one occasion, Lieut. Feggetter, by order of the Commanding Officer, patrolled 'No Man's Land' in search of wounded, and was instrumental in bringing in a great number of wounded men from near the enemy's wire." Unmarried.

2. Lieut. Feggetter is remembered on J1.09 and J1.16

Photos: Tony Harding

de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18; part three, page 97 carries the information in Note 2 above.

Jesmond Presbyterian Church 1888-1938 A Jubilee Memorial gives date of insertion of window.

Tony Harding; James Pasby

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

 

Notes for this Parish

Individual stories for this Parish