Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Colliery

In the entrance porch of Bebside Primitive Methodist Church.

Then in the War Memorial Hall, which was burnt down in 1970.

Cowpen and Bebside Social Club demolished 1999

St Benedict’s Church Cowpen

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled December 1921 by Lt. Col. I. Wright, D.S.O.

Oak, taken from H.M.S. “Britannia”.

Hughes, Bolckow & Co. Ltd.

In Sacred memory
of the men from
Bebside Colliery
who gave their lives in the Great Wars
1914-1918 — 1939-1945
The Glorious Dead.
Their names shall live for ever.

Plaque 33 inches high x 44 inches wide (84cms x 112cms).

This is set in a frame with gable top and slight shaping down the sides, measuring 48 inches high x 56 inches wide (122cms x 142cms).

The borders are painted beige and the rest, on which the wording is painted, is painted black.

The dedication is in the gable section, handwritten in gold paint in serif lettering, using upper and lower case.

The space underneath the dedication is divided into four panels by flat pillars which are arched at the top.

At the top of each panel is a gold-painted cross with a red poppy at centre.

These panels each bear the names in a single column of the dead from 1914-18, handwritten in gold paint using Roman capitals throughout.

At the bottom, the last two names in every column are from 1939-45.

1. The plaque was originally mounted temporarily in the porch of Bebside Primitive Methodist Church on 10th December 1921 by Lt. Col. N.I. Wright, D.S.O., whilst the proposed new Institute was being built. (See Blyth News report of 08/12/1921).

The plaque was eventually transferred to the new premises (Bebside Memorial Hall and Institute) which was opened in 1924 and burnt down in 1970.

The plaque was then moved to Cowpen and Bebside Social Club until it was demolished in 1999 and became the site of a McDonalds.

2. 79 names are listed in the 1921 newspapers but by 1924 when the Memorial Hall was opened there is mention of 80 names (the addition was probably John James Bell). In the Blyth News report the name of Archibald Summers is at the end of the list of names published and he was also possibly a late addition in 1921.

Photo: Jack Tait

Blyth News:
08/12/1921 gives details of unveiling;
12/12/1921 reports unveiling with list of names;

Morpeth Herald
16/12/1921 reports unveiling;
16/05/1924 reports placing plaque in the new Institute.
20/03/1970 reports Club gutted by fire.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
09/12/1921 reports proposed unveiling in Primitive Methodist Church;
12/12/1921 reports unveiling.
12/05/1924 reports 80 names on memorial in new Institute

Northern Echo
12/12/1921 reports unveiling in the Primitive Methodist Church.

Shields Daily News
12/12/1921 carries brief press report stating that the new Institute will “also house the war memorial”.

Source of quotation:
“Their names shall live for ever” Not ascertained, but possibly based on “Their name liveth for evermore” from Ecclesiasticus 44)

Jack Tait, Blyth Local History Society;
Ralph W. Gould;
Janet Brown;
Dorothy Hall;
Stephen Rickett;
Sean Robinson

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