Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

On bend of road outside Cornhill House, on A697 to Coldstream.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Unveiled 11th February 1920 and dedicated by Rev. Canon Holland, Rector of Cornhill

Granite

Public subscription.
Site donated by Captain Collingwood of Cornhill

a.
In
glorious
memory
of
(Names)
all
of this parish. These fell
in the Great European War
1914-1918.
Sons of this place
Let this of you be said,
That you who live
Are worthy of your dead.
These gave their lives
That you who live may reap
A richer harvest
Ere you fall asleep”.

b.
(Names)
These fell
in the Great World War
1939-1945.
We think of them in the morning
and remember them on the
going down of the sun.

Cross of Celtic type, approx. 15 feet high (4.6m), roughly hewn with smoothed faces.

The shaft is about 10 feet high (3m), standing on a pedestal about 48 inches high, and a platform at the bottom approx. 12 inches high ( 122cms x 30cms).

The pedestal is 60 inches wide and 36 inches deep(152cms x 91cms) at the bottom tapering to 36 inches wide and 24 inches deep (91cms x 61cms) at the top.

The platform is 84 inches wide by 60 inches deep (213cms x 152cms), and is made of large squared stones.

The names are on the shaft.

The dedication for 1914-18 is on the front face of the pedestal.

The names and dedication from 1939-45 are on the left hand side of the pedestal.

The names are in lead attached to the monument, and painted black, using Roman capitals.

Four low bollards and chain were provided in 2002.

1. This memorial is unusual in that names are not listed alphabetically, or in order of ranks. They are on the tapering shaft of the cross, and the shortest name is at the top and the longest at the bottom.

2. Inside the church is a wall hanging which features the war memorial in the top right hand corner.

3. Refurbished 2002 with money raised from fund raising events and grants, and rededicated 10th November 2002.

4. The the name of Alexander Renton was added in September 2016. The word “All” was removed and the name inserted. The memorial was rededicated on Remembrance Sunday 2016

Historic England Listing

Photos: J. Brown, P. Thirkell;
photos taken in Spring 2003 after refurbishment: Marie Gillespie

Berwickshire News
10/02/1920 reports dedication.

Illustrated Chronicle
11/02/1920 page 6

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
14/02/1920 reports dedication.

Sources of quotations:
“Sons of this place . . .” Not ascertained.
“We think of them in the morning . . .” adaptation of For the Fallen Lawrence Binyon.

Janet Brown;
Berwick upon Tweed Town Council;
P. Thirkell;
Marie Gillespie (Clerk, Cornhill on Tweed Parish Council);
Tony Harding;
Dorothy Hall;
Eric Grounds

Coldstream and District Local History Society are researching the names on this memorial.

Contact: info@coldstreamhistorysociety.co.uk