Library and Plaque 1914-18 Rutherford College

Rutherford College, Bath Lane / West Road. (Demolished)

1914-18

Plaque unveiled Wednesday 12th April 1922 by Sir George Lunn, Chairman of Newcastle Education Committee

Bronze plaque set in marble frame.

Rutherford College

Public subscription

1914 Pro Patria 1919

Memorial Library.

The plaque is pedimented with a wide border of swags and leaves raised in casting.

At centre top is a wreath within which are the arms of the college, partly obscured by a ribbon bearing the words “1914 Pro Patria 1919”.

The names are listed in three panels, two columns on each panel, using raised Roman letters.

1.    Over 830 Old Rutherfordians served in the forces during the first World War, of whom at least 152 lost their lives.

2.    The Rutherford College for Boys became Rutherford Grammar School in 1945. Rutherford College moved in 1956 to new premises in the West Road, and subsequently became West Gate Community College.

3.    Following the unveiling of the memorial tablet, the second part of the war memorial, a school library was formerly opened, the fallen having “left the books of the scholar for the bivouac …”

4.   The plaque was located in the main corridor.

5.   There were originally two buildings, one a Girls’ School, the other for boys. The Girls’ School building was demolished. The Boys’ School building has been used as the Westgate Community Centre.

6.   The School lost three masters in the first World War. They are Pioneer Charles Wightman Elliott, R.E., who was killed in August 1917, H.H. Lawson, M.A., who was attached to the armed forces as a chaplain, and V.P.L. Mauboussin, French master at the School from 1908-14, who was killed in January 1915. Their names are on the memorial tablet.

Photo of plaque: Tony Harding

Illustrated Chronicle
17/02/1920 page 6; 14/03/1920 reports proposals for a book of remembrance, plaque and library

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
17/02/1920 Circular letter sent to former students
16/04/1920 reports appeal for names and for donations;
13/04/1922 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Journal
17/02/1920 reports proposal to have Roll of Honour and Roll of Service, and states ” . . . a copy of the Roll of Honour can be seen in the entrance hall at the College”;
11/03/1920 reports proposal to erect Library, and £300 raised;
27/11/1920 reports £470 raised, a tablet to be erected and a Book of Remembrance to be compiled (See NUT126).

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
21/02/1920 reports setting up a fund for the memorial and a list of names;
19/03/1921 reports final arrangements for erection of a memorial;
08/04/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
15/04/1922 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
07/04/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
13/04/1922 reports unveiling

Shields Daily News
07/04/1922 gives notice of unveiling.

Tyne and Wear Archives
Ref: E.NC14/2/24/1 (Vol. 1); This includes copies of The Rutherfordian Magazine produced by the school which contain information on former pupils who served or fell;
copies of the Unveiling Programme;
details of the headmaster’s statement on the design and construction of the schools memorials.