Memorial
Monument 1939-45, Afghanistan, Ridley Park
Blyth
Memorial Name: Monument 1939-45, Afghanistan, Ridley Park (B42.23)
NEWMP Ref No.: B42.23
Parish: Blyth
Ridley Park.
Centre monument of three on a raised platform with steps leading to them and Garden of Remembrance.
a. 1939-45
b. Afghanistan
Unveiled 12th November 1950 by Mayor of Blyth, Councillor David Baron.
Bronze on granite.
1939-1945
Garden of Remembrance
In memoriam
A tribute to the men and women
of our community who made the supreme sacrifice
in defence of freedom.
Horizontal bronze plaque on a granite slab.
It measures 84 inches by 36 inches (213cms x 91cms), with narrow raised edge, set in memorial gardens.
The date is at the top.
The names are listed in four columns, the lettering is in raised Roman capitals.
A separate matching plate at the bottom carries the town crest at the top, and the details of the Garden of Remembrance.
On the end of the memorial is a plaque bearing a name of a man who fell in Afghanistan.
264 names.
See transcript.
1. This was the Town memorial, which included New Delaval, Newsham, Bebside and Cowpen.
2. A letter from “Resident” in the News Post Leader for Thursday, 17/12/1998 reads: “This year and for the past forty years I have attended the Memorial Service at the Cenotaph in Blyth. Every year I think the memorial to the 263 men of the town who gave their lives during the 1939-45 war is a disgrace to a town the size of Blyth. A slab of stone which you’ve almost got to stand on to read the names must be the cheapest memorial in Northumberland. I would willingly support a fund to have this memorial renewed and a place for those who lost their lives in other conflicts as well”.
3. At some point the name Downie, L. has been added to the memorial (between photographs taken by NEWMP).
4. In 2018 “The Cenotaph in Ridley Park underwent the biggest transformation with a complete refurbishment. When work started on the refurbishment programme it was discovered that there were no foundations and this had been the reason for the subsidence that was in the initial survey report. The World War II memorial was dismantled and the subsidence issues were resolved. All the memorials were cleaned and the names re-painted.
New memorials were created to incorporate the names of those not on the original memorials and also to commemorate those who have died in conflicts post 1945.
The parade area was paved and the steps re-laid in granite. An accessible path was added from the parade area to the top of the Cenotaph to allow those with restricted mobility to access the memorials to lay wreaths. A dropped kerb to the path was created to aid access and six dome bollards installed at the entrance to the parade area to limit vehicular access.
Handrails were installed at either side of the steps, at the side of the accessible path and behind the memorials. This work was carried out by D & M Fencing who also supplied the steel troughs that have been placed beside the memorials to hold crosses.
The final flourish to the parade area was the installation an engraved, polished plaque depicting the emblem of the All Arms Association. The cost of the refurbishment and renovation work was £95,107.99 plus £1,166.50 for Survey/condition report, planning applications”. Blyth Town Council website.
Photos: P. Thirkell; Robert Preston;
old postcards:Tony Harding
Additional Research Documents
Jack Tait, Blyth Local History Society;
Janet Brown;
Philip Thirkell;
Tony Harding
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
BLYTH, Ridley Park.
1939-1945
Allen, A.L. Elliot, B.S.W. Knight, W. Robson, Roland
Allen, K. Emmerson, N. Lamont, A.D. Rolt, T.C.
Anstey, T. Errington, G. Lawson, N. Rothery, H.
Armstrong, R.W. Fenton, J.Y. Lawton, W. Rutherford, R.S.
Atkinson, G. D.F.M. Flint, J. Leask, J. Ryan, E.
Atkinson, J.R. Fogg, W. Leddy, T. Salvesen, G.W.
Barker, J. Foggon, J. Lindorff, S. Scott, C.N.
Barker, T. Forrester, R. Long, T.R.R. Sennett, J.
Barningham, J.G. Foster, S. Longstaff, R.B. Sherringham, J.
Barton, D. Forsyth, J. Lowery, D. Shields, N.
Bell, J. Fredriksson A.V. Lownie, D.G. Shy, F.
Bell, L.S. Fulbeck, C.W. Luke, J. Simmons, H.D.
Bell, W.M. Fytche, W.M. McCarthy, T. Smith, J.R.
Bell, W. Gaff, R.O. Macauley, J. Smith, W.W.
Benns, W. Gallagher, J. McGuigan, H. Soulsby, N.
Bilton, A. Garrod, L.E. McHarg, G. Southern, F.
Bishop, J.W. Gateshill, W.S. Makepeace, W.R. Spensley, T.
Blackburn, I.W. George, J. Marlin, T.L. Stafford, R.S.E.
Blades, L. Gibbons, T.W. Marlow, C.J. Staton, J.T.
Blandford, E. Gibson, W.E. Marshall, J.L.M. M.M. Stephenson, R.
Bligh, A. Golightly, J. Marshall, N. Stobbs, G.E.
Boynes, J. Gowans, J.G. Masland, J. Stobie, J.
Boulter, J. Gribble, W. Mason, N. Stoker, J.
Brady, E.J. Hadlow, W.F. Mather, W. (D.F.M.) Stoker, J.H.
Bradley, B.F. Haines, W. Metcalfe, M.W. Stoker, S.
Branley, A.G. D.S.M. Hakin, J.T. Metcalfe, O. Stokes, A.B.
Brewis, F.A. Halliday, R.H. Milburn, J.W. Storey, E.
Brocksopp, G. Hann, G.W.R. Mitcheson, R.D. Storey, J.J.
Brown, J.H. Hannah, J. Moore, L. Strachan, J.G.
Brownbridge, R.W. Hardy, P. Mordue, J.W. Strong. T.W.
Bruce, J.G. Harrison, J.L. Morrell, A.T.T. Sutherland, E.
Burgon, P. Hebron, F. Murphy, F. Swalwell, G.
Burnett, J.D. Hemsley, G.W. Muter, J.H. Swinhoe, T.W.
Burnett, C.R.F. Henderson, J.A. Nesbit, J.R. Taylor, J.D.G.
Burrell, W. Henderson, J. Nicholson, B. Thompson, F.J.
Carey, W. Henderson, Ralph D.F.M. Nicholson, M. Thompson, J.
Carmichael, E. Henderson, Robert Noble, C. Thompson, W.N.
Chapple, I. Henstock, W. Oates, J.A. Tilmouth, J.A.
Charlton, N. Hertwick, F. Oliver, W.M. Turnbull, J.
Clarke, A. Hetherington, G. O’Neil, E. Turner, J.R.
Cogle, J. Hisley, M.J. Orton, R. Tuttiett, J.D.
Cole, R. Holmes, R.L. Pape, H.G.C. Valentine, J.
Collins, J.H. Hornsby, S. Parker, G. Wake, J.W.
Coyne, T.P. Howes G.H. Patterson, H. Wake, M.
Cozens, H.C. Howes, W. Patterson, W. Wakenshow, N.
Critchley, E. Hume, J. Peake, T.T. Wallace, R.
Croft, W. Hume, T.H. Pickering, S.W. Walton, J.
Crosby, J.T.E. Hurrell, W. Poll, J. Wardle, G.G.
Crutchley, E. Hutchinson, R.A. Potts, J. Watson, T.
Crutchley, T.W. Jackson, J. Proud, R.G. Wear, R.
Davison, F.M. Jackson, J.S. Pye, G. Wedderburn, A.
Davison, J.W. Jaggs, J.W. Pyle, J.H. Whitlock, L.G.
Davison, T.B. James, F. Quinn, W. Wilkinson, R.T.
Dean, J. James, M.F. Rae, J. Wilkinson, S.R.
Devlin, J. Jewels, J.R. Rae, T. Williamson, A.
Dickinson, W. Jobson, R.N. Ratter, R. Willis, M.
Dixon, L. Johnson, J.E. Ready, J.J. Willis, G.
Dixon, W. Johnson, S. Reed, A. Wilson, J.G.D.
Doran, J.G. Johnston, R.W. Reilly, T. Wilson, F.
Douglas, R. Jones, H. Reynolds, W. Wilson, G.W.
Driver, S.P. Jones, J.H. Rice, C. Wilson, R.S.
Dryden, R. Keith, A.M. Robinson, E.K. Wiseman, P.D.
Dunning, W.G. Kelly, H. Robinson, P. Wood, W.
Eason, J.H. Kensall, G. Robinson, R. Wray, L.
Edward, E.J. Kidger, L. Robson, Richard Younger, E.
Breadin, J. Metcalfe, J. Gerner, E.F. Downie, L.
Garden of Remembrance
In memoriam
A tribute to the men and women
of our community who made the supreme sacrifice
in defence of freedom.
—————————————————–
On plaque at end of memorial:
Afghanistan Campaign
Guardsman Michael Sweeney
NamesB42.23
War Memorial Indexes
County Durham Index
Newcastle Index
Northumberland Index
Over The Tees Index
This is a work in progress. Interested in helping, contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
