Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Tower Hill
Wooler
Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Tower Hill (W68.01)
NEWMP Ref No.: W68.01
Parish: Wooler
Tower Hill, Wooler.
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
a. Unveiled 17th April 1921 by Mr. Noel Villiers of Weetwood.
b. Restored and rededicated 4th November 2001.
Stone from Doddington Quarry
War Memorial Committee
Estimated at £400.
Site donated by Misses Archbold and presented to the town
Present Condition: Restored 2001.
Messrs. W. Tully & Sons.
Ownership and Maintenance: Ownership uncertain. Maintenance by Glendale Parish Council.
a.
To
the memory of
those from the
Wooler district
who fell in the
Great War
1914-1919
Their name
liveth
for evermore.
No
hate was theirs
no thirst for fame
when forth to Death
by Honour sent.
Life beckoned sweet
the Great Call came
They knew their duty
and they went.
b.
1939-1945
Cross 23 feet high (7m) with stone base 79 inches x 63 ins (200cms x 160cms)
The dedication is incised on a panel on the upright of the cross, with the quotation on a panel on the reverse side, in each case using Gothic script.
The cross stands on a rough cairn, resting on a shallow shoulder which bears a laurel wreath carved in half relief on the front.
The main pedestal has panels dressed on all four sides, in which the names are incised in a single column using sans serif capitals.
The cairn stands on two steps, and the names for 1939-1945 are incised in two columns on the riser of the top step.
The whole monument is set inside an iron railing.
a. 76 names and regiments.
b. 28 names and regiments.
See transcript.
1. Wooler had received a gun as a war trophy, which had been removed and thrown in the Mill Dam, as had those at Alnmouth and Amble. The Parish Council were seeking to put it right, but could not afford it. Some people might wish to pay the expenses, and the gun could then be put into the Workhouse until a site for it was found.
2. The final balance for the memorial showed a surplus of £25 7s which was handed over to Wooler Parish Council for the future maintenance.
3. In 1995, Wooler Parish Council were asked to consider a proposal to move the cross from its high position on the old motte to a more accessible one in the town, on the grounds that older folk found it difficult to climb the steps, and younger people might forget.
4. “Wooler Parish Council has now taken out a loan to repair the wall at the war memorial which collapsed at Christmas. The loan means that parish council resources will be stretched and a decision has been taken not to give grants out to charitable organisations approaching them for funds. The contract to repair the wall is being put out to tender and work will start shortly. The council is also hoping to tie it in with a general renovation of the memorial and access to it, possibly with Millennium funds. Flagstones lifted during the renovation of the Royal Tweed Bridge at Berwick have been set aside to create steps up to the memorial”. Northumberland Gazette 22/09/1998
5. The memorial features on the Wooler Millennium Tapestry, exhibited at the Unique Northumberland Exhibition at Alnwick Castle June 2000.
6. Friends of War Memorials (now War Memorials Trust) gave a grant of £200 towards the cost of restoration in 1998
7. From the area, some 400 men joined the colours, of whom 68 were killed.
Photos of memorial, Millennium tapestry and rededication ceremony: J. Brown; Photos: Tony Harding; Lonely Tower; old postcards: Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall
Alnwick & County Gazette
26/06/1920 reports work in hand and £100 still outstanding;
23/04/1921 reports unveiling, and the hope of providing a suitable iron railing;
06/08/1921 tells of surplus funds.
Illustrated Chronicle
11/05/1921 reports unveiling.
Morpeth Herald
02/04/1920 reports on the proposed site and estimated cost.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle
01/12/1920 reports hope that the memorial would be unveiled by the end of the year free of debt.
Newcastle Daily Journal
30/03/1920 reports proposal to erect a memorial on Tower Hill; 06/08/1920 reports unpopularity of the gun relic and throwing it away by the youth
Northumberland Gazette
22/12/1995 reports proposal to move memorial;
14/10/1999 reports plea to have the memorial site tidied
Shields Daily News
11/10/1924 reports on trophy gun
Morpeth County Library
Frith collection of photographs depicts Memorial from Chattel Bridge.
Wooler at War 1939-1945. Glendale Local History Society, Wooler, 1996.
Sources of quotations:
“Their name liveth for evermore” Apocrypha: Ecclesiasticus 44
“No hate was theirs . . .” Not ascertained.
Glendale Local History Society;
Janet Brown;
Philip Thirkell;
Berwick upon Tweed Town Council;
R.W. Gould;
Michael Newrick;
Tony Harding;
Dorothy Hall;
Ian R. Scott
Coldstream and District Local History Society are researching the names on this memorial.
Contact: info@coldstreamhistorysociety.co.uk
Richard Waters is also studying the names. He can be contacted on richardwaters1@hotmail.com
If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.
WOOLER, Tower Hill.
On front of shaft of cross:
To
the memory of
those from the
Wooler district
who fell in the
Great War
1914-1919
Their name
liveth
for evermore.
———————————————-
Front pedestal (1914-18):
Armstrong D. N.F.
Aynsley W. R.F.A.
Aitchison J. N.F.
Atkinson J. G.H.
Allan E. N.F.
Allan T. Y. & L.
Beattie W.M. H.L.I.
Brodie J. R.S.
Brown, W. W.R.
Cockburn W. N.F.
Cock G. D.L.I.
Dunbar, G. Y. & L.
Dunn, T. N.F.
Elliot G.W. E.L.
Elliot R.L. N.F.
Elliot W.H. N. N.Z.E.F.
Fairbairn J. N.H.Y.F.
Fettis T. R.A.S.C.
Deedes H.P. K.R.R
———————————————-
Front base (1939-45):
Brewis J.W. R.G.S. Dey D.H. R.A.F.
Brewis V.G. R.A.F. Dey N.A. R.C.N.V.R.
Cockburn W.H. R.A.F. Elliot J.N. R.N.F.
Croser C. R.A.F. Eliot S.D. R.N.
———————————————-
Side 1 pedestal (1914-18):
Fettis J. C.H.
Gallon R. R.F.A.
Gallon J. N.F.
Gagie G. R.F.A
Gordon T. R.S.F.
Gibson H. N.F.
Hall J.S. N.F.
Hall J. N.F.
Henderson J. N.F.
Henderson W. N.F.
Hinson J. N.F.
Hinson T. N.F.
Hogg R.C. L.S.
Hume J. N.F.
Hunter W. A.E.F.
Hunter J.E. N.F.
Jobson J.S. N.F.
Knox J.T. W.Y.
Lambton G. C.G.
———————————————-
Side 1 base (1939-45):
Clark N. R.A.S.C.
Campbell D.F. R.S.
Williamson H.G. M.N.
Thompson F. R.F.A.
———————————————-
On back of shaft of cross :
No
hate was theirs
no thirst for fame
when forth to Death
by Honour sent.
Life beckoned sweet
the Great Call came
They knew their duty
and they went.
———————————————-
Back pedestal (1914-18):
Leach R.E. R.F.
Lee G. D.L.I.
Lilico P. R.A.F.
Locke J. N.F.
McEwen J. N.F.
McLaughlin R. N.F.
McQueen G. N.F.
Murray A.G. N.F.
Nesbit J. L.F.
Nesbit T. N.F.
Padley R.A. R.F.
Redpath J.D. D.L.I.
Riddell J. N.F.
Robison A.N. A.& S.H.
Robson N. N.F.
M.G.C.
Simm W. C.L.I.
Skeen O. C.E.F.
Thompson G. N.F.
———————————————-
Back base (1939-45):
Murdie H R.N.F. Scott C. R.N.F.
Patterson J. M.N. Scott G. R.N.F.
Richardson A.E. R.A.F. Scott J. R.N.F.
Robinson A. C.G. Smith J.W. R.M.
———————————————-
Side 2 pedestal (1914-19):
Smart A N.F.
Smart T. E.R.
Stothert J. N.F.
Thompson A. D.L.I.
Thompson N. N.F.
Thompson T. N.F.
Tinlin W.P. C.E.F.
Tocker R.A. D.L.I.
Waite P. W.Y.
Whittle A. N.F.
Wilson J. N.F.
Winchester M. N.F.
Waugh J. N.F.
Winton J.H. N.F.
Maclagan P.W. B.R.
Maclagan J.G. K.O.R.L.
Morrison J. N.S.R.
Naylen E. R.G.A.
Taylor D. S.L.I.
———————————————-
Side 2 base (1939-45):
Forster T.A. R.A.F. Heseltine F.O. R.A.S.C.
Green H. R.E. Kerr J. R.N.F.
Grieve T.B. R.N.F. Kerr R. R.A.F.
Hall W. R.A.F. Lowrey R.W. R.A.F.
NamesW68.01
War Memorial Indexes
County Durham Index
Newcastle Index
Northumberland Index
Over The Tees Index
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