Memorial

Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Memorial Hall

New Hartley

Memorial Name: Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Memorial Hall (N50.04)

NEWMP Ref No.: N50.04

Parish: New Hartley

Original Location:

Inside Memorial Hall

Present Location:

The Hall is now a Community Centre

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled February 20th 1927 by Rev. W. Holroyde of Blyth, Chairman of the Committee,
accompanied by Rev. C.J. Gardner of St. Stephen’s, Seaton Delaval, both of whom had served.

Materials Used:

Oak with chromed glazed plates.

Who Commissioned:

War Memorials Committee

How Money was Raised:

2d was deducted from miners’ wages each week

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Mr. Pinkie (Colliery Joiner)

Ownership and Maintenance: Blyth Valley Borough Council.

Inscription:

New Hartley War Memorial
in grateful memory of those
who fell in the Great War 1914-1918
(Names)
Their glory shall not be blotted out
1914 Their bodies are buried in peace 1919
but their name liveth for evermore.

Memorial Description:

Free standing monument, total height 11 feet x 78 inches wide, on a 9 inch pedestal (3.35m x 198cms x 23cms).

The outer frame forms a heavy classical setting, having two plain side panels at the top of which on either side is a laurel wreath carved in half-relief and gilded.

The central piece is a rectangle with pointed top with carving in the architrave.

The central panel contains the dedication in the top section, the names in three columns 27 inches high x 11½ inches wide (69cms x 29cms) divided by slender wood dividers.

Beneath this is another panel 7 inches high x 44 inches wide (18cms x 112cms) bearing the dedication.

All lettering is in incised Roman capitals blackened on a chromed material underneath glass.

On the extreme outer panels, one on either side underneath the laurel wreath, are hung two matching plaques, rectangular with curved tops, on which are inscribed the names from the Second World War.

Lettering is in gold painted Roman capitals.

The panels have been very cleverly covered with a glass panel which is not obvious until one tries to examine the lettering at close quarters.

Names:

a. 42 full names.
b. 20 surnames and initials.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The 1914-18 war memorial plaque was described in the unveiling report as being a brass plate in an oak frame, “affixed to the wall in the new Welfare Hall”. Presumably it was made into into present form when the plaques for 1939-45 were added. Decorative columns with a linked chain have been removed at some time in the past.

2. After the Memorial Hall was revamped, the memorial was relocated in the new entrance hall.

3. In the past, the Service of Remembrance was held in St. Mary’s Church and then the parade would come into the hall to lay wreaths and have the Silence in front of this memorial.

4. The last photo shown here features the late Jack Tait blowing his nose. This must be one of the very last photos taken of him. He collapsed and died the next day.

Sources:

Photos: Seaton Delaval & District LHS; Jack Tait; Janet Brown

Blyth News
21/02/1927 reports unveiling
(Available on the British Newspaper Archive)

Newcastle Journal
21/02/1927 reports unveiling
(Available on the British Newspaper Archive)

Shields Daily News
21/02/1927 reports unveiling
(Available on the British Newspaper Archive)

.Sources of quotations:
“Their glory shall not be blotted out” Based on Revelation 3 v 5;
“Their bodies are buried in peace . . .” Apocrypha, Ecclesiasticus 44