Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Crossroads

Carham

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Crossroads (C8.02)

NEWMP Ref No.: C8.02

Parish: Carham

Original Location:

On corner where three roads meet at East Learmouth.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled 19th September 1920 by Earl Grey.

Materials Used:

Rough unpolished grey granite on red stone.

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription. Site donated.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Mr William Wilson, Sculptor, Tweedmouth

Ownership and Maintenance: Carham Parish Council

Inscription:

a.
Carham Parish
in memory of those
who fell
in the Great War
1914-18

“Let it be told at Sparta that we remain at our posts”

b.
1939-1945

Memorial Description:

Cross of Latin style, slightly tapered, approx. 13 feet high (4m), with a bronze wreath at the crosspiece.

The shaft stands on a sloping pedestal about 12 inches high (30cms), which rests on a large base approx. 42 inches wide at the top and 48 inches wide (107cms x 122cms) at the bottom. This rests on two red stone steps, approx. 6 inches deep and 72 inches wide (15cms x 183cms), and 9 inches deep and 96 inches wide (23cms x 244cms).

The whole is raised up on a triangular base, with 6 granite steps leading up to it, and a retaining wall.

All lettering is incised in sans serif capitals throughout.

The dedication is on the front face, the names from 1914-18 are on the right and left faces of the pedestal.

The names from 1939-1945 are on the right hand face of the sloping stone below the shaft of the cross.

Names:

a. 17 names and regiments
b. 2 names and regiments.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. Earl Grey “considered the plain form (of the monument) denoted the Border character”

External Links:

5/25 East… – Royal British Legion North Northumberland | Facebook

Sources:

Photos: J. Brown, P. Thirkell; old postcard: Tony Harding

Alnwick & County Gazette
02/10/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Journal
27/08/1920 reports erection of the memorial;
20/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Source of quotation:
“Let it be told at Sparta . . .” Simonides’ (556-468 B.C.) quotation attributed to him in Herodotus’ Histories Book VII Ch.228 is actually “Go tell the Spartans, thou who passest by, That here, obedient to their laws we lie”.