Memorial Details

Rood Mortimer Bros. 1915 St. Mary Magdalene

W38.05

WHALTON

NZ 131813

Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

1914-18

Rood on top of screen comprised of a Crucifix with the two Marys on either side.

There is a brass plaque 26cm high x 24cm wide on a wood pattress on wall to the right of the chancel arch which bears the dedication in Roman upper and lower case.

Wood carving, brass plate.

See above

Their mother

1. The screen itself is not part of the memorial. On the chancel side, the lettering tells how the screen was erected by Mrs. Bates, widow of the rector of Whalton in his memory. He died about 1904. It would seem that Mrs. Mortimer put the rood on top in memory of her own sons at a later date.

2. 2nd Lieut. Mortimer is also remembered at Milbourne M8.02, Ponteland P12.08 and Seaton Sluice S9.03.

3. MORTIMER, Edmund

2nd Lieut., 6th Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), 3rd son of William Brook Mortimer, of Hay Carr, near Lancaster, Landowner, some time Registrar of the County Court, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and his wife, Caroline (9, Kensington Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne), daughter of the Rev. J.E. Elliot, of Whalton, Northumberland; and brother to Lieut. W.B. Mortimer; born Tynemouth, Northumberland, 24 Aug. 1879; educated Royal Grammar School, Lancaster; Bracewell Hall, Skipton-in-Craven; Repton, and Clare College, Cambridge; was a Land Agent, and a partner in the firm of Messrs. G. & N. Wright, of Blyth, Timber Merchants; joined the Northumberland Fusiliers after the outbreak of war Sept. 1914, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 10 Oct. following; went to France on 20 April, and was killed in action at St. Julien 26 April, 1915. Buried near Wieltje. Col. Spain wrote: "Your son was killed on 26 April, gallantly leading his platoon in a desperate attack on St. Julien. He was a fine type of English gentleman, and I feel his loss very greatly. He was very popular with the men, and his platoon adored him. His body was brought in , and we buried him near Wieltje. I had some red and white roses which the 5th Fusiliers wear on St. George's Day, and I made a little wreath of them, and put it on the cross we made with his name and regiment. He was shot through the heart, and must have died instantaneously. He was as brave as a lion." He was very fond of, and good at, all games, being a good shot and keen angler; while at Repton he was in the Cricket XI., and also in Clare College Cricket XI., and later plated on occasions for Northumberland County; also for the Northern Nomads; was a good bat, sound field, and, on occasion, a dangerous change bowler. At the same time he was a good football player, and a member of his Company's XI. that won the Inter-Regimental Cup a week previous to his leaving England. Unmarried.

Photos: J. Brown; P. Thirkell; Tony Harding

de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18: part two, page 230 contains the information in Note 3 above.

Source of quotation
“Make them to be numbered . . .” From Te Deum Laudamus (We praise thee, O God) . Unknown origin (sometime ascribed to St Ambrose).

Janet Brown; Ken and Dorothy Southern; P. Thirkell; Tony Harding

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

 

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