Plaque 1914-18 Memorial Hall

In the memorial hall,

then later in a porch of the memorial hall.

On the outside wall of the new hall.

1914-18

Unveiled 27th February 1921 by Major J.G.G. Rae, D.S.O. of Berrington House;
dedicated by Rev. J.E. Wright, M.A., Vicar of Ancroft.

Oak

War Memorial Committee, Chairman M.A.Coates, Esq., The Mead, Haggerston, Secretary W.A.Watson.

Public subscription

The tablet was the work of Messrs G. Maile and Son, Euston Road, London.

In Honoured memory of
the men of this parish
who fell in the Great War.
They died that we might live.

On the wooden village hall, a porch has been added with a stone base and pitched roof.

The back wall is plastered white, the bottom stone work is painted white.

A tall plaque 37 inches high x 22 inches wide (930 mm x 550 mm) has been mounted on the back wall.

It has a slightly rounded top, and carved fluting down both sides.

A rose is carved in half relief in each top corner and a wreath in each bottom corner, again in half relief.

The inscription is painted in gold lettering in a separate small panel at the top, and the words “They died that we might live” appear on the bottom.

Both dedication at top and bottom are hand written in serif capitals.

The names are hand-written in serif upper and lower case.

There is a shelf for a vase mounted on either side.

1. The Berwick Advertiser 04/03/1921 reports:- The hall is divided into two by a removable partition, the eastern end being designed as a games and reading room; while the other portion is specially adapted for the holding of entertainments. A stage has been erected in the west end of the hall and above this the memorial tablet is now placed but later on it is to be erected in the porch of the hall where it may be seen it on entering.

2. The hall was rebuilt 2005, the plaque is now outside the new hall, and was  rededicated 14th October 2005.

Photos: J. Brown, P. Thirkell

Berwick Advertiser
04/03/1921 reports unveiling with details of hall above.
(Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
05/03/1921 briefly mentions unveiling.

Northern Echo
05/03/1921 reports opening of hall with plaque

Source of quotation:
“They died that we might live” “Hail! and Farewell! John Oxenham

Janet Brown;
Berwick upon Tweed Town Council;
Sally Bird;
S.M. Clark;
Tony Harding;
Cllr. E.I. Hunter

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