Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Front Street

Front Street, south side, near the junction with Station Road and Sunderland Road.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 29th April 1922 by Lieut.Col. R.S. Roundell, M.P.;
dedicated by Rev. F. Aubrey E. Leake, rector of Boldon.

Stone with polished marble plaques.

War Memorial Committee (Treasurer, Mr. J.C. Edington)

Public subscription. “Mr. Clarkson offered to do the asphalt work free of charge”.

Mr. N.S. Brown of Heworth.
Designer – Mr. W.H. Wood of Newcastle

a.
The people of Boldon
record in ever
grateful remembrance
the names
of their brothers
who gave their lives
in the Great War
1914-18.
They were a wall unto us both
by night and by day. I Samuel xxv.16.

b.
Let us also remember
those who gave their lives in the Great War
1939-1945

Cross of Celtic type, 19 feet high (5.8m) on tapered pedestal and three steps.

This rests on a platform 108 inches x 96 inches (270cms x 240cms).

The front of the cross has St. George and the Dragon carved in half relief below flowers and leaves entwined with cord.

The dedication is carved into the front of the pedestal.

Two marble plaques 36 inches high x 31 inches wide (91cms x 78cms) with gold lettering have been attached to the sides.

These carry the names listed in two columns using sans serif capitals.

There is a third marble plaque 36 inches high x 31 inches wide (91cms x 78cms) leaning at the foot of the cross with black lettering for 1939-45.

The whole is set in a small garden with flowers and seats and surrounded on three sides by bushes and trees.

1. Lieut.Col. Roundell had been in charge of the camp at Boldon during the war for four years, and no fewer than 38,000 men and 7,500 officers passed through his hands. The camp housed 27,000 troops.

2. The figure of St.George was carved at York.

3. The cross was erected “in a shrubbery given by the late Mr. J.G. Addison adjoining the Sunderland Road”.

Historic England Listing

Photos: C. Sanders, Simon Raine; Dorothy Hall: old postcards: Tony Harding; George Nairn; John Grainger

Illustrated Chronicle
01/05/1922 carries photos of unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
01/05/1922 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
06/05/1922 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
01/05/1922 carries brief report of unveiling.

Shields Gazette
23/12/1921 reports progress;
29/04/1922 reports unveiling

Source of quotation:
They were a wall to us both by night and by day. I Samuel xxv.16.

C. Sanders;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Tony Harding;
George Nairn;
Dorothy Hall;
Mike Mulhern

The names on this memorial are being researched by Peter Hoy.

Contact: peterhoy@hotmail.co.uk