Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

The Surgery, Market Street, in the front garden.

Moved so as not to block the new entrance to the surgery.

Also, turned through 90 degrees

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 15th September 1923 by Mr. John Morrison, managing director of Cramlington Coal Co.;
dedicated by Rev. J. Burdon, Vicar of Killingworth.

Marble figure, sandstone base.

War Memorial Committee

Pennies and two pennies, and a levy of miners’ pay cheques.

Messrs. Emley & Son, Newcastle.

a.
Dudley War Memorial
This monument and hospital
are erected in honoured memory
of our men who fell in the
Great War 1914-1918.

b.
1939-1945.

Statue of a female, overall height approx. 10 feet (3.48m).

She is wearing a long dress and cloak but with bare feet.

She has one hand on an anchor on a block, set on a pedestal which is on a stepped base  78 inches square (1.98m).

The dedication and some names are listed in a single column on the front of the pedestal, more names are added on either side, in a single column on each.

The names from 1939-45 are listed in a single column on the back of the pedestal.

All lettering is incised in sans serif capitals and painted black.

1. Part of the anchor has been broken off. The statue also had a star on her forehead which is now missing. Old photographs show that originally the statue stood on a two-tier sandstone platform.

2. This Project was entered for the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering Schools’ Competition in 1991 and was awarded the Janet Brown Trophy in the Group entry.

3. The Newcastle Weekly Chronicle describes it as a figure of “Hope”.

4. Mr. Morison was presented with a silver mounted walking stick as a memento of the occasion.

5. At the unveiling, two more names needed to be added to the memorial. See below.

6. Harle G., MNE was on the Royal Oak sunk by a German U-boat in Scapa Flow in 1939.

7. Murphy R., Pte was Robert H. Murphy, a regular soldier, “bomb-thrower” with the Northumberland Fusiliers, later joining the Durham Light Infantry. He was killed in July 1918 at the Battle of Tardenois.

Historic England Listing.

Photos: P. Thirkell; A Green; photocopy of a photo of the unveiling: Jack Grieves

Illustrated Chronicle
17/09/1923 reports unveiling with photos.

Morpeth Herald
14/02/1919 reports on proposals;
07/03/1919 reported acceptance of the proposals;
14/03/1919 reported public meeting
02/05/1919 reports fund raising concert by Backworth Married People’s Choir;
30/01/1920 reports on fund raising for a monument and a cottage hospital.
23/04/1920 reports that the Dudley War Sewing Party, attached to St. Paul’s Mission Church, which made garments during the war, was wound up and the balance of £3 11 shillings and 6 pence was handed over to the War Memorial Fund;
11/03/1921 reports on funds;
04/05/1923 reports that work will be commenced in 2 weeks’ time, and opened in September;
14/09/23 reports proposed unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
22/09/1923 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
14/09/1923 reports proposed unveiling;
17/09/1923 reports unveiling.

Dudley Middle School
photograph of unveiling ceremony; modern photographs and photographs of the statue in its former position; photocopies of various letters and photographs of Robert Murphy, and photograph of his grave (See Note 7 above); assorted memories and details of their search and how they found out information (Photocopies on file)

Philip Thirkell;
Emma Clough and Claire Evans Dudley Middle School;
Janet Brown;
Jack Grieves;
A. Green;
T. Harding; Dorothy Hall

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