Plaque 1914-18 Dame Allan’s School

Originally in the entrance hall to the building on College Street.

Moved to Newsom Hall when the school moved to the present site in 1935.

1914-18

Unveiled 23rd April 1921 by Major General Sir R.A. Kerr Montgomery, K.C.M.G., K.C.B., D.S.O.
Dedicated by Vicar of Newcastle, Very Rev. Canon G.E. Newsom M.A.

Brass in oak frame.

Old Boys

Plaque cost £50. Postages and printing cost £10.

Old Boys.

Dame Allan’s War Memorial Fund.

Edward H. Thew, Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.

On backing :
The Great War
1914-1918

At bottom:
Known to have served 652. “The Fallen” 84.
Mentions in despatches 28, Order and decorations 52

On centre plaque :
1914 In piam memoriam 1918
(Names)
Sta puer et revocans hos almae matris alumnos
vivere pro patria disce morique tua.

Plaque 48 inches high x 86 inches wide (122cms x 218cms) and set in an oak frame.

This wider panel is painted cream.

At the top “The Great War / 1914-1918” has been painted.

Down each side are listed the names of those who received honours, and at the bottom are the statistics of those who served, died, were mentioned in despatches or received orders or decorations.

All lettering is painted, mainly in grey Roman capitals.

At centre is a brass plaque 30 inches high x  45 inches wide (76cms x 114cms).

It has a wide border pattern of red and white roses, chosen to give a Northumbrian character to the plaque, cast to stand proud and enamelled in white, red and black with the background black.

At centre top is “In piam memoriam” (“In pious memory”) in a slight arc over the school badge, between two wreaths containing the date “1914” and “1918”.

The names are listed in five columns.

The lettering is in Roman upper case.

1. Sta puer et revocans hos almae matris alumnos vivere pro patria disce morique tua translates as “Stand, boy, and recalling these Old Boys of the school, / learn to live and die for your country”

2. From the school, 80 were killed, 132 wounded, 221 former pupils were commissioned, 48 received decorations.

3. At a reunion, it was reported that tribute had been paid to 645 former pupils who had served and 83 had been killed.

4. The plaque was originally mounted on the staircase in the school but was moved to Newsom Hall in Fenham in 1935.

5. There was also to be a framed Roll of Honour of those who served, but whether it was ever created, or has since been lost, is not known.

6. It was also proposed that a “school leavers’ scholarship” be established which would allow a former student to go to Oxford, Cambridge, Sandhurst or another military academy. It is not known whether this was ever awarded.

7. The total sum raised for the memorial was £340+. The balance was used to buy War Loan at the value of £284.1s. which would fund the scholarship. The rest was invested. The fund remained open for further donations.

8. In 1950 a declaration of trust established the charity known as Dame Allan’s Old Boys’ 1914-1918 War Memorial Fund as a prize fund. This was merged in 1987 with other prize funds to form the Dame Allan’s School Prize Fund.

9. For a short while the school was known as the Royal Jubilee School.

10. Former pupil C. Foggin was a pilot who joined the Royal Flying Corps, was injured but returned to active service. He was killed in March 1918.

11. Edwin Victor Laidlow who died on 1st November 1914 was the first Allanian to die in action.

12. The name of G.B. Jameson should be added to the list of those who received Orders and Decorations. Serving with the Royal Field Artillery, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur in 1998. When he died a year later, he was one of the last three of the “Old Contemptibles”. He returned every year to his old school to honour his fallen comrades up to his death. His commitment to his school is marked by a small plaque next to the Great War plaque, placed there in 2000 by the Old Boys’ Association and the School on the first anniversary of his funeral.

Photos: Fenham L.H.S.

Alnwick & County Gazette
09/10/1920 reports proposal for a tablet, also for a scholarship if funds permit.

Illustrated Chronicle
28/02/1920 page 11 reports meeting;
25/04/1921 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Journal
05/02/1920 reports meeting to discuss possibility of erecting a memorial, but reported a small attendance due to difficulty in getting in touch with Old Boys;
12/02/1920 reports proposal to erect a memorial and appealing for funds;
01/03/1920 reports agreement to erect a monument at the Royal Jubilee School;
10/04/1920 reports a proposed memorial to those who fell in the war;
15/04/1920.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
09/10/1920 reports closing of fund;
14/02/1920 reports proposal for a bronze plaque in the Royal Jubilee School and an appeal for names;
30/04/1921 reports unveiling.

North Mail
15/04/1920 reports on funding.

School Journal
tells the stories under “Notes”

Dame Allan’s Schools Newcastle upon Tyne 1705-2005 E.D. Smith. Published by the Dame Allan’s Schools, 2005 ISBN 0 9551275 0 5

Dame Allan’s Register. In Newcastle City Library

Janet Brown;
Ian Holloway;
Eric Smith (Dame Allan’s School);
Michael Newrick;
Fenham Local History Society
Philip Thirkell;
Tony Harding;
Dorothy Hall;
James Pasby

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