Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Town Gate
Reference
S85.01
Place
SWALWELL
Map ref
NZ 212618
Original Location
Town gate, Hexham Road.
Present Location
Resited near to Holy Trinity Church due to building of access road to the Western Bypass.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled Easter Monday 1918 by Rt. Hon Earl of Durham K.C., Lord Lieutenant.
Memorial Description
Cross on octagonal column on octagonal double pedestal, total height 27 feet. The upper pedestal bears a shield carved in relief on each sunken face. The dedication is carved around the middle of the column in raised elaborate lettering above the names. The lower pedestal carries the names in a single column on a smoothed sunken panel on each face.
Below these, on one face, are the words “Swalwell War Memorial”. Below this, another sunken panel carries the names and dedication for 1939-1945. The information on the unveiling of the original cross is on the sloping face of the bottom pedestal. Lettering is in sans serif capitals throughout apart from the quotation.
("Ashlar with inscribed Lakeland slate panels. Octagonal. Perpendicular style. Wide step to double-chamfered pedestal inscribed 'Unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Earl of Durham K.C. Lord Lieutenant Easter Monday 1918 and bearing 9 panels of names of dead of two World Wars. Low-relief lettering in band above panels; sloped coping supports moulded and coped buttresses defining ogee-headed panels containing black shields under string. Foliage decoration to tall tapered shaft with cross finial").
Below these, on one face, are the words “Swalwell War Memorial”. Below this, another sunken panel carries the names and dedication for 1939-1945. The information on the unveiling of the original cross is on the sloping face of the bottom pedestal. Lettering is in sans serif capitals throughout apart from the quotation.
("Ashlar with inscribed Lakeland slate panels. Octagonal. Perpendicular style. Wide step to double-chamfered pedestal inscribed 'Unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Earl of Durham K.C. Lord Lieutenant Easter Monday 1918 and bearing 9 panels of names of dead of two World Wars. Low-relief lettering in band above panels; sloped coping supports moulded and coped buttresses defining ogee-headed panels containing black shields under string. Foliage decoration to tall tapered shaft with cross finial").
Materials used
Stone ashlar with Lakeland slate panels.
Inscription
a. Swalwell War Memorial.
Greater Love / Hath No Man / than This - / That A Man / Lay Down / His Life For / His Friends -/ Pray For Us.
b. Remember also those / who gave their lives in / World War / 1939-1945
Greater Love / Hath No Man / than This - / That A Man / Lay Down / His Life For / His Friends -/ Pray For Us.
b. Remember also those / who gave their lives in / World War / 1939-1945
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee
Cost
£250
Present condition
Lettering could be clearer, Condition Fair.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
W.H. Wood, F.R.I.B.A. of Newcastle.
Ownership and maintenance
At the dedication ceremony, the memorial was handed over to the Whickham Council.
Notes
1. It was estimated that 400 men had gone from Swalwell, of whom about 70 died.
2. Attention is frequently drawn to the very early date of the unveiling.
2. Attention is frequently drawn to the very early date of the unveiling.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: C. Sanders; Kevin Milburn; Ken Blythe
Gateshead Library Local Studies Dept Report of Unveiling in Blaydon Courier April 6th 1918
Whickham, Swalwell and Dunston A. Brazendale (Images of England Series; 1998)
Durham Record Office Register of those who served 1939-45 D/X 723/60
Illustrated Chronicle 12/10/1916 reports proposals including drawing; 15/2/1918 reports permission for site; 8/3/1918 reports proposals for unveiling; 1/4/1918 reports unveiling this afternoon; 2/4/1918 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Illustrated 12/10/1916 carries a drawing of the memorial which is being submitted to all subscribers of the fund; 23/4/1918 carries a photos of the unveiling.
Blaydon Courier 30/3/1918 reports proposed unveiling; 6/4/1918 reports unveiling.
Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St.John 15 v 13
Gateshead Library Local Studies Dept Report of Unveiling in Blaydon Courier April 6th 1918
Whickham, Swalwell and Dunston A. Brazendale (Images of England Series; 1998)
Durham Record Office Register of those who served 1939-45 D/X 723/60
Illustrated Chronicle 12/10/1916 reports proposals including drawing; 15/2/1918 reports permission for site; 8/3/1918 reports proposals for unveiling; 1/4/1918 reports unveiling this afternoon; 2/4/1918 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Illustrated 12/10/1916 carries a drawing of the memorial which is being submitted to all subscribers of the fund; 23/4/1918 carries a photos of the unveiling.
Blaydon Courier 30/3/1918 reports proposed unveiling; 6/4/1918 reports unveiling.
Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St.John 15 v 13
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
Ethel and the late Neville Armstrong (Whickham & District L.H.S.); Mrs. N. Smith: Sylvia Hacker; Kevin Armstrong; Mr. & Mrs. T.W. Lodge; George Nairn; Dorothy Hall; James Pasby; Kevin Milburn; Ken Blythe; Doreen Morton
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Town Gate (S85.01)
SWALWELL Town gate, Hexham Road.
Front upper face 1914-19 Second upper face 1914-18
Greater love hath no man
DLI DLI
L/C F. Armstrong Pte. E. Finlay
Corp. R. Armstrong “ R.V. Gillender
“ M. Barnes “ M. Hails
Pte. W. Casey “ J. Hair
“ R. Churchill “ R. Harvey
“ J. Clark “ W .Hines
“ R. Copeland Corp. J.E. Hodgson
“ G. Cliff Pte. J.S. Irving
“ W.H. Charlton “ F. Johnson
“ T. Davis Sergt. G.A. Johnson
“ R. Drinkald Pte. R. Knotts
“ J. Drummond Corp. T.G. Lister
“ W. Finlay D.C.M. Corp. W. Laybourn
-----------------------------------------------------
Lower front face:
Swalwell War Memorial.
Remember also those
who gave their lives in
World War
1939-1945
P.F. Arkless Jos. Lambert
M.S. Cliff J.M.T. Turner
R.V. Clarkson W.W. Raine
D. Crass J. Rutter
G. Foster G. Shepherd
W. Hudspeth E. Shalles
G.S. Hogg T. Simpson
R.S. Laybourn A.H. Still
W. Stonehouse
-----------------
On plinth:
Unveiled by the Rt Hon
The Earl of Durham K.G.
Lord Lieutenant
Easter Monday 1918
-----------------------------------------------------
Third upper face 1914-18 Fourth upper face 1914-8
than this that a man
D.L.I.
Pte. R. Nicholson Pte. G. Lambert E.Y.
“ G.R. Oxley “ J.W. Lumley W.R.R.
“ R.G. Pearson “ J. McClusky R.F.C.
Corp. J.T. Reed “ J. MaQuire R.E.
Pte. M. Rose Corp. W.M. Norvell A.I.F.
Sergt. W. Scott Pte. J. Nelson K.O.S.B.
2ndLt. J. Swindle “ J. Oxley N.L.
Pte. M. Swindle “ P. Smith K.O.S.B.
“ J. Thompson Sap. T. Simpson R.E.
L/C. G. Wilkinson MM Pte. J.S. Tindall C.R.
“ F. Wallace Corp J.S. Turnbull A.I.F.
Corp. M. Wigham Pte. G. Watson K.O.S.B.
Pte. W. Wright “ S. Wright S.S.R.
At foot of panel At foot of panel
L/Cpl C.W. Smith A.B. M. Newton.
-----------------------------------------------------
Fifth upper face 1914-18 Sixth upper face 1914-18
lay down his life for
Corp. D. Aitken Candns R.N. & R.N.D.
Pte. T.E. Armstrong R.I.F. A.B. J.C. Benson
“ W. Bowen R.E. “ G. Braddock
“ N.W. Braddock K.O.S.B. “ R. Chadwick
“ N. Braddock W.R.R. L.S. G. Delaney
Bomb. J.E. Brown R.G.A. E.R.A. J.D. Forster
Sergt. P.J. Conlan R.D.C. A.B. W.R. Hails
Pte. E. Finlay E.Y. “ R. Harrison
“ F. Finlay E.Y. “ J.R. Jobling
“ T. Finlay E.Y. “ J.W. Kimber
“ M. Hails S.R. L.S. A. Laybourn
“ R. Hails R.F.A. “ J. Ledger
“ C.H. Jones 22nd N&D’s A.B A. Rolf
“ J.T. Scott
“ G.M. Storey
C.P.O. T Watson D.C.M. M.M.
A.B. J.H. Whitfield
“ J.E. Wilkinson
P.O. H.G. Williamson
M.M. & bar
On lower edge At foot of panel
Corp.M Ledger D.C.M. N.F. Pte. A Grainger W.Y.R.
-----------------------------------------------------
Seventh upper face 1914-18 Eighth upper face 1914-18
his friends Pray for us.
N.F. N.F.
L/C. S Battensby Corp. S.B. Morpeth
Pte. T. Brown Pte. J.O. Poulton
“ J. Briggs “ D. Robertson
“ E. Coleman “ M. Robson
Sergt. T.A. Carr “ F. Rowell
Pte. J.T. Drinkald “ A.B. Rowe
“ T. Hope “ T.E. Steel
“ J. Halfpenny “ G. Swaddle
“ J. Iley “ R. Simpson
“ J.W. Johnson “ P. Teasdale
“ A. Johnson “ W. Turnbull
“ W.F. Murray “ J. Welch
“ J. Morpeth “ J. Watson
At foot of panel
Pte. J.T. Williamson E.L.R.
NamesS85.01
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Parish Notes
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