Memorial

Plaque 1914-18 Y.M.C.A.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Memorial Name: Plaque 1914-18 Y.M.C.A. (NUT209)

NEWMP Ref No.: NUT209

Parish: Newcastle upon Tyne

Original Location:

Y.M.C.A. Blackett Street (Demolished.) NZ 248648.

In the Reading Room

Past Location:

Northumbrian University. Wynne Jones building. Basement. (Found in Lift Shaft!), NZ 252650.

Present Location:

YMCA 592-596 Welbeck Road Newcastle. NE6 3AB. NZ 293647. (Circa 2023)

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 9th May 1925 by the Duke of Northumberland.

Materials Used:

Oak

Who Commissioned:

YMCA Northumberland Association.

Ownership and Maintenance: YMCA

Inscription:

Roll of Honour
1914 They gave their all 1919

Memorial Description:

Roll of Honour, 55 inches high x 70½ inches wide at the widest point, (1.39m x 1.78m). Width across name panel and columns included, 64 inches, (1.63m).
Name panel 42 inches, wide (1.07m).

It had a rounded top in which are the words “Roll of Honour”. Which is missing.

There are fluted pillars up each side surmounted by a wreath with the date “1914” and “1918” at the foot respectively.

The names are listed in four columns using Roman capitals.

The words at the bottom are “They gave their all”.

The wreaths and other parts of the memorial were gilded.

Names:

100 surnames and initials.
See transcript

Notes:

1. The YMCA Building was roughly located where the entrance to Eldon Square Shopping Centre is today, near Grey’s Monument.

2. The memorial seems to have lost its rounded top which bore the dedication.

3. It is planned that the memorial will be relocated to the modern Y.M.C.A. at Wellbeck Road, when the refurbishment of the new building has been completed. Still in progress January 2024.

4. The Northumbrian University web site states “It turned out that staff from Estates had discovered in Wynne Jones a hitherto unknown [known to NEWMP], First World War memorial“. This Memorial had been recorded by NEWMP in 2005, the whereabouts WAS unknown.

5. The Memorial is in need of a good clean and some gold gilding work, and repairs to missing parts.

External Links:

Northumbria University finds the memorial

YMCA Young People from the past

YMCA Website

Sources:

Photos: James McConnell; James Pasby 2024;

Illustrated Chronicle
11/05/1925 reports unveiling.

In Tyne & Wear Archives:
The Shrievalty of John Grantham 1924-25 Vol. 111. This is a pictorial album of photos of Councillor John Grantham’s year in tenure as a Lord Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1924-25. The book is 14 inches high x 10 inches wide by 1¾ inches thick (354mm X 254mm x 52mm). It is a hard backed gold embossed album containing black and white photos mounted on stiff board, one photo per page, with hand written credits underneath. These are from the Illustrated Chronicle archives (photographer unknown). This includes the unveiling of the YMCA War Memorial in the YMCA Building, now demolished, which are shown here.