Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green

On the village green in the centre of the village.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Unveiled 2nd January 1921.
Rededicated 11th November 2006

Aberdeen granite on Doddington freestone base.

Public subscription

Mr. Tully of Belford.

a.
Sacred
to the memory
of
those men who gave
their lives for
God, King & Country
in the Great War
1914-1919.
———
And also
to the memory
of
those who fell in
the World War
1939-1945.

“Lest we forget
They died that we might live”

Cross.

Tall circular column, crenellated, 11ft 6 ins high (3.5m), surmounted by a cross.

The circular column stands on two steps, which rest on a stone platform.

The dedication and names are in four columns divided by elongated crosses which run down its length.

Lettering is in sans serif capitals.

1. The story is that Gen. Sitwell of Barmoor had told the villagers of Lowick that, if they spent their money on cottages as a memorial, he would provide a monument. However, they so strongly disapproved of the memorial he proposed, that they erected this one instead. See Barmoor B5.01

2. “The little village of Lowick, near Berwick, is having trouble over . . . its war memorial. Some months ago a large boulder of whinstone . . . was set up as a memorial . . . (by) . . . General Sitwell, of Barmoor . . . most of the villagers objected to (it) as unsuitable for a memorial.  A public meeting was held, and a fresh committee appointed with the object of erecting a memorial which would be more pleasing to them and to ask him to remove his memorial . . . What makes the situation more complicated is that the villagers do not appear to have made up their minds yet what they really want as a war memorial” (Alnwick Gazette)

3. There was a surplus of £4 6 shillings 8 pence which was to be used to provide railings around the monument. These actually cost more than the amount subscribed, the balance was made up by Mr. Foreman of Lowick, a member of the War Memorial Committee.

4. War Memorials Trust made a grant of £370 towards refixing the cross, cleaning and repointing the memorial in 2005.

5. The names of Privates Glazie and Bruce were added. Mr. Bruce paid for the addition of his son’s name, plus a donation.

6. The restored memorial was rededicated November 11th 2006

7. The memorial was filmed for the Channel Four series “Not Forgotten” but not shown, although it features in the book.

Historic England Listing

Photos: J. Brown; P. Thirkell; Tony Brown; Phillip Hanson

Alnwick and County Gazette
05/06/1920 carrying the above report;
04/02/1922 reports on additions to monument and the surplus for the railings;
03/06/1922 reports balance of cost of railings

Berwickshire Advertiser
17/01/1921 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
04/06/1920 reports controversy.

The Journal
13/11/1989 reports the story of this and Barmoor memorials.

War Memorials Trust
Newsletter No. 28 Winter 2005/6 carries photo of memorial and award of grant.

Morpeth County Library
Frith collection of photographs, showing the monument enclosed with a small railing fence

Not Forgotten Neil Oliver, Hodder and Stoughton; 2005, ISBN 0 340 89872 0 page 92

Sources of quotations
“Lest we forget” Recessional Rudyard Kipling
“They died that we might live”. Hail! and Farewell! John Oxenham

Janet Brown;
Berwick upon Tweed Town Council;
Philip Thirkell;
Tony Harding;
Tony Brown;
Maggie Harker (Lowick Local Heritage Group);
Phillip Hanson

Duncan Glen is researching the names on this memorial and would like to hear from any one who has memorabilia, stories or photographs.

Contact DUNCAN.GLEN@btinternet.com