Memorial

Plaque 1914-18 Readhead’s Shipyard

South Shields

Memorial Name: Plaque 1914-18 Readhead's Shipyard (S86.019)

NEWMP Ref No.: S86.019

Parish: South Shields

Original Location:

Redhead’s Shipyard Tyne Dock in the headquarters of Ship Repairers. Corstorphine Road, Originally outside on Readhead’s Head office wall facing South. NE33 1RS NZ 35491 66172

Past Location:

It was moved to Tyne Dock, where it was attached to the office wall of Aker McNulty Ltd., Commercial Road, North side, opposite where it used to be.

Present Location:

Relocated in 2014 in Harton Quays Park, South Shields. into the wall. NE33 1SJ. NZ 35882 66956

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 19th November 1921 by Sir James Readhead, chairman and managing director.
Re-dedicated October 23rd 2014 by Rev. Paul Kennedy.

Materials Used:

Bronze

Who Commissioned:

Messrs. John Readhead & Sons, shipbuilders.

How Money was Raised:

Paid by James Readhead.

Present Condition: Excellent

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Grant & Sons, goldsmiths, South Shields.

Ownership and Maintenance: Readhead's Shipbuilders, now South Tyneside Council.

Inscription:

1914-1919

As a memorial to the employees of the
West Docks who gave their services also
to the immortal memory of those employees
named below who fell in the Great War,
this tablet is erected by
James Readhead Esq., Chairman and Managing Director.
(Names)
Pro Patria

Memorial Description:

Plaque 46 inches high x 65 inches wide, (1.16m x 1.65m), weight approx. 2 cwt..

On the right is ‘the winged figure of Peace furling the flag of war’ which stretches almost across the top of the plaque.

In her left hand Peace holds the palm of victory, and contemplates the panel bearing the names.

The names are listed in six columns.

The names and inscription are in raised Roman capitals throughout.

Beneath the plaque are the words “Pro Patria”.

Names:

57 surnames and initials.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. This plaque was originally on the South side of Commercial Road, next to the Bridge of Sighs. It was next to the Office entrance. It was then moved on to the north side. When Readhead’s Head office was demolished the plaque was removed for safe keeping and placed in to a building until re-found in 1999. The plaque, which had lain around the yard for many years, was re-erected in November 1999 by workers Ronnie Sharp and Tony Lobb at a special service.

2. Of the 45 men known about, 19 have no known grave.

3. After the War, in the summer of 1919, the head of the firm, James Readhead, hosted a welcome home for those of his men who had enlisted. It was held in the grounds of the family home at Westoe Hall, in Westoe Village where he presented them with enamel and gold medallions. John George Atkinson was one of those men. He was in the R.N.V.R. but fought on land at the Somme where he was badly injured, losing his left hand and eye. He was unable to resume work in the yard because of his injuries.

4. The Diocese of Durham Faculty 1986 had approved the placing of the First World War memorial from the Readhead’s Ship repairers in St. Hilda’s Church. The location was intended to be between the second and third windows of the gallery from the west on the south wall.

5. The Memorial was cleaned and has now been re-located to Harton Quays Park near the Custom House. At a re-dedication service on the 23rd October 2014, attended by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, Reverend Christopher Fuller carried out the Service, with the dedication by Reverend Paul Kennedy. The event was organised by South Tyneside Council.

External Links:

History of Readhead’s Shipyards.
The Bridge of Sighs .

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; Fred Beales; Peter Hoy; David Sloan; Dorothy Hall

Illustrated Chronicle
21/11/1921 reports unveiling with photos.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
21/11/1921 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
26/11/1921 reports unveiling.

Shields Daily News
22/10/1921 reports unveiling ceremony

Shields Gazette
Notes 2 to 5

The Journal
27/06/2001 reports finding of bodies in Note 10 above;
04/10/2014 reports proposed visit of HRH Duke of Kent to the rededication in the new location.

Civilian ROH
source of note 7 above

History of South Shields page 159

Diocese of Durham
Faculty 6359, issued March 1986

Durham County Record Office
Photograph of plaque in repairer’s yard. Ref: DDR/EA/FAC/3/6359

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Ralph W. Gould;
Harold Abernethy,
C. Sanders,
Janet Brown,
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
Fred Beales;
James Pasby;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton-in-Teesdale;
John Bage;
Peter Hoy