Memorial Details

Plaque 1914-18 Readhead's Shipyard

S86.019

SOUTH SHIELDS

NZ 358669

Redhead’s Shipyard Tyne Dock in the headquarters of Ship Repairers. Originally outside on Readhead's Head office wall facing South. Then at Tyne Dock, attached to office wall of Aker McNulty Ltd Commercial Road, North side, opposite where it used to be

Relocated in 2014 in Harton Quays Park in the wall.

1914-18

Unveiled 19th November 1921 by Sir James Readhead, chairman and managing director.
Re-dedicated 23/10/2014 by Rev. Paul Kennedy.

Plaque 3 feet 10 inches high x 5 feet 5 inches wide, (1.16mm x 1.65mm) weight approx. 2 cwt., bears at its right ‘the winged figure of Peace furling the flag of war’ which stretches almost across the top of the plaque. In her left hand Peace holds the palm of victory, and contemplates the panel bearing the names. The names are listed in six columns. the names and inscription in raised Roman capitals throughout.
Beneath the plaque are the words "Pro Patria".

Bronze

1914-1919 / As a memorial to the employees of the / West Docks who gave their services also / to the immortal memory of those employees / named below who fell in the Great War / this tablet is erected by / James Readhead Esq., Chairman and Managing Director.

Messrs. John Readhead & Sons, shipbuilders.

Grant & Sons, goldsmiths, South Shields.

Readhead's Shipbuilders, now South Tyneside Council.

1. This plaque was originally on the South side of Commercial Road, next to the Bridge of Sighs. Next to the Office entrance. It was then moved on to the north side. When Readhead’s Head office was demolished it was removed for safe keeping. Placed in to a building until re found in 1999. See Note no 9 below.

2. Of the 45 men known about, 19 have no known grave, but are commemorated on other monuments.

3. Private William Hollands, who had been a blacksmith lived at Johnston's Hill. He died age 21.

4. Joseph Brown plater, lived in South Frederick Street was in the Royal Naval Division and died in the Dardanelles.

5. Nine Readhead's men died in the last year of the War. John Hackworth died 4 days after the end of the War aboard the 'Goissa' which was mined on the way to Constantinople.

6. After the War, in the summer of 1919, the head of the firm, James Readhead, hosted a welcome home for those of his men who had enlisted. It was held in the grounds of the family home at Westoe Hall, in Westoe Village where he presented them with enamel and gold medallions. John G. Atkinson was one of those men. He was in the RNVR but fought on land at the Somme where he was badly injured. He was unable to resume work in the yard because of his injuries.

7. Matthew Priestley (AFS) - 49 yrs - 10 April 1941 - Readheads Shipyard, South Shields, was killed in Redheads yard during the bombing of South Shields in WW2.

8. The Diocese of Durham Faculty 1986 had approved the placing of the First World War memorial from the Readhead’s Ship repairers into St. Hilda’s Church. The location was intended to be between the second and third windows of the gallery from the west on the south wall.

9. The plaque, which had lain around the yard for many years, was re-erected in November 1999 by workers Ronnie Sharp and Tony Lobb at a special service.

10. In June 2001 a grave of several bodies was uncovered near Vimy Ridge. One of the bodies is thought “highly likely” to be that of Pte. James Easby. Against his mother’s wishes, he left his job at a Tyneside shipyard, [Redheads Shipyard], lied about his age and joined the regiment, determined to join the war effort. He joined the 10th Batt. Lincolnshire regiment known as the “Grimsby Chums”. He was killed whilst forming part of the advance party in the Battle of Arras. Journal 27/06/2001

11. The Memorial was cleaned and has now been re-located to Harton Quays Park near the Custom House. At a re-dedication service on the 23rd October 2014, attended by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, Reverend Christopher Fuller carried out the Service, with the dedication by Reverend Paul Kennedy. The event was organised by South Tyneside Council.

Photos: C. Sanders; Fred Beales; Peter Hoy

Newcastle Daily Chronicle 21/11/1921 reports unveiling.

Shields Daily News 22/10/1921 reports unveiling ceremony

Illustrated Chronicle 21/11/1921 reports unveiling with photos.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 26/11/1921 reports unveiling.

Shields Gazette Notes 2 to 5

Civilian ROH source of note 7 above

History of South Shields page 159

Diocese of Durham Faculty 6359, issued March 1986

Durham County Record Office Photograph of plaque in repairer’s yard. Ref: DDR/EA/FAC/3/6359

Journal 27/06/2001 reports finding of bodies in Note 10 above; 04/10/2014 reports proposed visit of HRH Duke of Kent to the rededication in the new location.

The late R.W. Gould; Mr. Harold Abernethy, C. Sanders, Janet Brown, John and Mavis Dixon; Dorothy Hall; Fred Beales; James Pasby; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton-in-Teesdale; John Bage; Peter Hoy

The names on this memorial are being researched by Peter Hoy. Contact: peterhoy@hotmail.co.uk

 

SOUTH SHIELDS   Outside Shipyard

      1914-1919

   As a memorial to the employees of the 

   West Docks who gave their services, also 

   to the immortal memory of those employees 

   named below who fell in the Great War, 

   this tablet was erected by 

   James Readhead, Esq. J.P., Chairman and Managing Director.

   Appleton, R.   Collier, J.   Gordon, G.     Johnson, E.    Robson, H.J.  Thompson, T.

   Archer, J.     Dennis, C.    Hackworth, J.  Martin, W.     Scott, A.     Tucker, L.

   Baker, T.      Douglass, W.  Hall, T.       Moore, W.G.    Scott, D.     Turnbull, J.W.

   Beaumont, J.   Dunn, W.      Hampton, T.M.  Mouat, S.      Scott, J.C.   Ward, A.

   Blair, M.      Easby, J.W.   Hamilton, C.   Phinn, O.S.    Sellars, W.   Ward, J.

   Broom, J.J.    Finlay, J.    Hinchan, J.F.  Ramshaw, R.    Small, C.     Wood, J.R.

   Brown, J.      Floyd, R.     Hollands, A.   Reay, J.B.     Smith, J.R.   Young, A.

   Brown, T.      Ford, W.B.    Lee, J.W.      Richardson, N. Smithers, M.

   Brown, W.H.    Frame, C.     Legg, W.R.     Riddle, R.     Swan, J.

   Cockburn, E.A. Gilchrist, H. Jennings, F.C. Robson, G.J.   Temple, J.W.

   Pro Patria

NamesS86.19    

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