Blyth
St Mary and St Martin

War Memorial

In addition to the principal War Memorial, there are memorials to others who were killed fighting for their country.

Principal War Memorial

Stone war memorial in the form of a wall monument, with the names of the fallen of the First World War inscribed within an aedicule with fluted pilasters under an interrupted segmental pediment which contains a cross botonnée inside a laurel wreath. Additional names from the Second World War have been added to the frame.

The inscription reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF THE
BLYTH AND HODSOCK MEN
WHO DIED FOR ENGLAND IN
THE GREAT WAR. A.D. 1914-1920.

Pte. W. BAKER.   Pte. R. HOLMES.
L/Cpl. R. BEIGHTON.   Lt /Col. P. N. KENT.
Cpl. A. BELL.   Pte. R. MALTBY.
Pte. J. BRACKENBURY.    ". G. MORLEY.
 ". E. CALVERT.    ". H. PAWSON.
 ". A. CLAYPHAM.   L/Cpl. C. RICKETT.
 ". G. COLLEY.   Pte. S. RYLATT.
 ". T. H. COWLING.   L/Cpl. D. SHILLITO.
 ". EMMERSON.   Pte. V. SCOTT.
 ". G. A. ESPIN.    ". T. E. SWINN.
Sgt. J. W. ESPIN.    ". F. VINCENT.
Pte. H. FENTON.    ". R. R. WATSON.
 ". C. HEATH.    ". T. MARRISON

THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD. AND
THERE SHALL NO TORMENT TOUCH
THEM.

1939-1945

Sgt. G. C. FLETCHER   Flt/Sgt. A. LOWE
Cpl. N. FLETCHER   Cpl. G W MANNING

Individual Memorials

Note that some of these are also listed on the Monuments and Memorials page.

George Anthony Weldon - Boer War

On a brass plaque in the shape of a shield, with a decorated border of a frieze of shamrocks, and images of two medals flanking the crest of the Weldon family, the bust of Queen Elizabeth Ist, with the motto, BENE FACTUM, in the base, memorial to Captain George Weldon, d1899. Black script with red capital letters.

Inscription:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF
CAPTAIN GEORGE ANTHONY WELDON.
2ND BATT. ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS
ELDEST SON OF COL. THOMAS WELDON C.I.E.
AND HELEN RACHEL LOUISA, HIS WIFE.

KILLED IN ACTION ON TALANA HILL
OCTOBER 2OTH 1899, AGED 33,
WHILE BRINGING A WOUNDED SOLDIER INTO
SHELTER. BURIED IN DUNDEE CEMETERY,
UNDER HEAVY FIRE. OCTOBER 21ST 1899
BY FOUR MEN OF HIS OWN COMPANY,
FOR HE WAS BELOVED BY ALL.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his friends." (St. JOHN XV. 13)

"He hath well done and so
made good hys name."

The wording of this memorial seems to have been confused and it is hard to know how to rearrange the lines to read correctly, but an alternative layout for the second part might be:

killed in action at Talana Hill, October 20th 1899, aged 33, while bringing a wounded soldier into shelter, under heavy fire. Buried in Dundee cemetery by four men of his own company, October 21st 1899, for he was beloved by all.

The Dundee cemetery mentioned is that in Natal, South Africa, not Scotland, with the battle of Talana Hill fought on October 20th 1899 during the Second Boer War. Talana was one of three hills overlooking Dundee and the 2nd battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers led the attack on the hill but were held down by heavy fire from the Boers and only took the hill after fierce fighting. Captain Weldon was the first officer of the regiment to be killed in the Boer War, and had joined in 1886, being promoted to Captain in 1896. His body was apparently located after the battle by his dog. He was the eldest son of Col. Thomas Weldon (1834-1905) and Helen Rachel Louisa Young Simpson.

Percy Crofts Ottley - First World War

Alabaster panel within a border, having a stepped top with a circular badge of a lion rampant against a saltire cross with an inscription in relief LONDON SCOTTISH, STRIKE SURE, the regimental badge of the London Scottish regiment. To Percy Crofts Ottley, d1917.

Inscription:

TO THE
GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
PERCY CROFTS OTTLEY,
SECOND SON OF WM  H. & JESSIE OTTLEY,
OF RANSKILL GRANGE.
WHO FELL IN ACTION NEAR CAMBRAI, FRANCE,
NOV. 23RD 1917, AGED 32 YEARS.
"GRANT HIM O LORD ETERNAL REST"

The London Scottish was a Territorial regiment which provided three battalions during the Great War and lost 1,542 men during its course.

John Moore - Second World War, died of disease

A brass plate beneath the principal War Memorial reads:

The UNION JACK was given in Loving Memory of
JOHN MOORE
who died Dec. 6th. 1955. Aged 34,
as a direct result of disease contracted whilst serving
with the RAF in INDIA during the
SECOND WORLD WAR.
The First World War
roll of service		 The Second World
War roll

Rolls of Service

Two boards, one for each or the World Wars, record those from the parish who served their country.