Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Rugby Football Club

Rugby Football Club

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 23rd April 1921 by R.F. Oakes, Hon. Sec. Yorkshire County Rugby Union.

b. Unveiled 28/11/1953 by Mr A.G. Murrell president of Rovers,
dedicated by Rev W.S. Cowans former Rector of Hartlepool.

Bronze plaque on oak pattress.

To the memory of those
of the Rovers Club who
gave their lives for
their King and Country.

Plaque in ornate oak frame surmounted by a crest in half relief.

There are swags at either side.

At the bottom is a wreath carved in half relief containing a ?lion.

The dedication is incised in the wood above the plaque.

The main plaque is of bronze, and lists the names in three columns, those from 1914-18 occupying the two left hand columns and those from 1939-45 on the right.

The two lists are divided by a white vertical line.

The lettering is in white Roman capitals.

1. It seems likely that the oak plaque bore a dedication for 1914-18 only at first, then was altered to allow for the names from 1939-45 to be added.

2. The Committee of the Hartlepool Rovers F.C. decided to acquire permanent headquarters as a war memorial. An option to purchase “Greencliffe”, which overlooks the Friarage Field, has been obtained, and the proposal is to raise “£2,000 to carry out the scheme.” They proposed to install a tablet in memory of those who fell; install suitable changing and bathing facilities, and to fit up club and billiard rooms.

3. “‘The old, well-patronised Stand in Clarence Road was reduced to a hopeless mass of wreckage by the second Zeppelin as it lightened its cargo of bombs while racing for dear life from the pursuing flashlight, the exploding shell and the daring aeroplane, to reach the untroubled atmosphere of the North Sea.’

Photo: Simon Raine

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail
17/04/1920 reports proposals and a public notice of appeal;
22/04/1921 reports unveiling prior to the match on Saturday.
25/11/1953 gives notice;
28/11/1953 reports unveiling today with photo.
(Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Northern Echo
19/04/1920 reports proposal in Note 1 above.

The Hartlepools and the Great War Source of note 3, page 261.

History of Rovers 1879-1979. Hartlepool Rovers Football Club. Fred Lister c1980.

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Tony Harding;
Dorothy Hall

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