Gallipoli Plaque, Sea Front Promenade, Littlehaven
In proud memory of the men from Tyneside who fought and died in the Gallipoli campaign. Royal Navy, Royal Naval Division, 10th, 11th, and 29th Infantry Divisions, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Unveiled by The Hon Alexander Downer AC, High Commissioner for Australia to the United Kingdom, 19 May 2015. (Source: South Tyneside Blue Plaques)
Merchant Navy Statue, Mill Dam
1990 by Robert Olley, cast by Burleighfield foundry. A bronze statue 2.5m high of a sailor at the wheel on a sloping yellow ashlar pedestal 1.74m high.
Inscribed on the pedestal on a plaque are the words:
The £56,000 needed was raised by public subscription. The plinth was paid for by Tyne and Wear Development Corporation. LOCAL LIST (Source TWSitelines)
Readhead’s Shipyards, Mill Dam, Harton Staithes
Originally outside Readhead’s Office in Commercial Road, moved in 2014 to Harton Staithes, Mill Dam,
Inscription reads: 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 was erected by James Readhead Esq, Chairman and managing Director (Source NEWMP)
South Shields Seamen’s Mission, Coronation Street, Mill Dam
“Gathered here at the entrance to our seamen’s chapel are memorial plaques presented over the past years in memory of seamen who died while following their calling. Their names together with those of their comrades are recorded also in the memorial book placed in the entrance hall of the mission, and their memories are perpetuated in the memorial reredos to Tyneside Seamen which now stands in the sanctuary of the church.” (Source NEWMP)
St Hilda’s Memorial, St Hilda’s Church
The cross was originally in the south end of the market. It stands 22 feet 6 inches tall.
It was designed by J H Morton and modelled on a Saxon cross, it cost about £1000. It contains the names of 83 men who fell in the Great War. (Source NEWMP)
St Mary’s Churchyard War Memorial, South Eldon Street
Was in St. Mary’s churchyard but the church was demolished in 1982 and replaced by sheltered housing. A cross with a sword on a tall plinth and two steps, 15 feet high.
“TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH AND CONGREGATION WHO FELL BY SEA, LAND AND AIR IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918”.
182 names are listed. The sculptor was Thomas Curry. An additional name was added in 2000. Local List (Source: TWSitelines)
Statue, “Man with the Donkey”, Ocean Road
By Robert Olley. This statue commemorates John Simpson Kirkpatrick who was born in South Shields in 1892. He was a member of the Australian Army Medical Corps and carried many dead and wounded soldiers with his donkey from the battleground at Gallipoli during the First World War. He died at Gallipoli on 9th May 1915. (Source: TWSitelines)
Temple Park Memorial, Temple Park
Opened in July 1961 by Mrs Frances Temple wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury (1942 to 44) William Temple.
Inscription
“County Borough of South Tyneside This park was given to the Corporation of South Shields on 26th September 1946 by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England to be used in perpetuity for pleasure and recreation of the public. On 13th July 1961 the park was declared open to the public by Mrs. Frances Gertrude Temple and was named The Temple Memorial Park in memory of her husband the Most Reverend and Right Honourable William Temple Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942 to 1944. “
(Source NEWMP)
Wellington Street Memorial, St Stephen’s Church, Mile End Road
A splendid 1914-18 monument consisting of a series of inscribed brass plaques mounted within a classically detailed black painted frame formed of two Doric columns supporting an entablature.
“ERECTED IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF WELLINGTON STREET WHO FOUGHT AND DIED IN THE GREAT WAR, THEIR GLORY LIVETH EVERMORE”.
Probably unique in the region as a memorial dedicated to those men from a single street killed in the war. (Source NEWMP)
Westoe, Horsley Hill Road, War Memorial
First World War Memorial. Portland stone. Unveiled on 28th February 1926. A cross, 25 feet high on an octagonal plinth with bronze swords on front and back and 4 steps.
The bronze plaque on the plinth reads:
“TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE OF THIS TOWN WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR, THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED AND TWENTY FOUR COTS IN THE CHILDREN’S WARD OF THIS INFIRMARY WERE ENDOWED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION. UNVEILED BY SIR JAMES READHEAD BART. 28TH FEBRUARY 1928”.
The sculptor was William Robertson Cliff of South Shields. The designer was J.H. Morton & Sons of South Shields LISTED GRADE 2, (Source TWSitelines)
Westside Club, 6 West Avenue, Cleadon
The club started in 1934 and the names listed are probably members of the club or relatives.
Sources: North East War Memorial Project
North East War Memorials Project – (newmp.org.uk)
TWSitelines
sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk | Tyne and Wear’s Historic Environment Record (twsitelines.info)
Photos:
Terry Ford