Plaque 1914-18 St. Cuthbert

St. Cuthbert’s Church.

At the junction of Wellington Street and Plessey Road, Blyth.

1914-18

Unveiled 15th December 1920 by Lt. Col. J.H. Nicholson;
dedicated by Rt.Rev. Bishop Ormsby.

White Sicilian marble; black, green and white Belgian marble pattress.

Bart Endean, Blyth.

Their name
liveth for ever

To the glory of God
and in memory of members of this
church who fell in the war
1914-1919

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

Plaque, comprised of an elaborate white monument set onto a plain black pattress with gabled top, measuring 60 inches at its highest point by 54 inches wide (152cms x 137cms).

The central panel is basically rectangular with a gable top, but there are two black pillars on each side, and the gable top has a broken line.

A wreath has been carved into the gable top.

The names are listed in three columns.

The letters are incised and painted black, using sans serif capitals throughout.

1. When discussing the proposed memorial “Mr. P. Dodds asked if they were going to include the names ….. of men who had been lost in the mercantile marine. Mr. Hill replied ….. the memorial was to be for those who had joined up and had fallen while wearing the King’s uniform in the Army or Navy. If they included the mercantile marine, there would be many other things which they would have to include – munition workers, transport workers and all kinds. They must have a definite line. Mr. Dodds, who had just been discharged from the army, said the men in France and the men in the navy paid tribute to the work done by the mercantile marine. Mr. Hill, after further discussion, said the matter could be raised at a future committee meeting.”

Photos: Jack Tait; Tony Harding

Illustrated Chronicle
16/12/1920 reports unveiling.

Morpeth Herald
02/05/1919 reports the inclusion of the mercantile marine quoted in Note 1 above;
17/12/1920 reports the unveiling ceremony.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
16/12/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
18/12/1920 reports unveiling.

Diocese of Newcastle Faculty Book 1
No. 713, 26/11/20, NRO 1875.

Sources of quotations:
“Their name liveth for ever” Apocrypha, Ecclesiasticus 44;
“Dulce et decorum est . . .” (It is a sweet and noble thing to die for one’s country) Horace, Odes Book 3, No.2, 1.13

Jack Tait, Blyth Local History Society;
Sally Bird;
Miss E. Laws;
Dorothy Hall;
Tony Harding

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