War Memorials, - Elsewhere
Haltwhistle (Northumberland)
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The Haltwhistle War Memorial The Haltwhistle War Memorial
Photo : © Copyright Tom Bastin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Haltwhistle War Memorial is located in a small park opposite St. Wilfrid's RC Church on Westgate.

The memorial is a decorated Latin cross on plinth with three stepped shoulders. The cross sits on a stepped base with side piers and end blocks. Cast metal plaques with the names of those commemorated as having lost their lives in the First World War are on the end blocks, and the names of those commemorated as having lost their lives in the Second World War are on ide piers. The head of the cross is carved on both sides with never ending interlaced rope ornaments representing eternity.

146 names are commemorated as having lost their lives in the First World War, and 59 in the Second World War.

3 soldiers who served in the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the memorial.

Private Christopher James L Birkett. 245274. 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, formerly 204417 Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Birkett, of Westerley Terrace, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Killed 22 August 1917. Aged 27.
Born Lambley, Enlisted Newcastle, Resided Haltwhistle.
Commemorated on Panel Panel 128 to 131 and 162 and 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private William Snowdon. 61800. 9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and M. E. Snowdon, of College Farm, Greenhead, Carlisle. Killed 4 November 1918. Aged 22.
Born Blenkinsop (Northumberland), Enlisted Newcastle-on-Tyne, Resided Greenhead (Carlisle).
Buried LE CATEAU MILITARY CEMETERY.
(SDGW and Register of Soldiers Effects spells name as "Snowden" and has Battalion as the 9th. The 9th Battalion is probably the correct one.
CWGC spells name as "Snowdon, as does the GH Gazette database. CWGC has battalion as the 4th.)

Private Robert Edward Spark. 17337. 10th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 12 January 1918.
Born Gateshead, Enlisted Newcastle.
Buried FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND.
(Richard Roberts, <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>, states that Robert Edward Spark's mother, - Margaret Ann, lived in Halrwhistle. Also, the 1911 Census has Robert Edward Spark, - a Bootmaker, living with his family at 5 River Terrace, Haltwhistle.
His brother, Walter Herbert Spark, who served as a Corporal with the Northumberland Fusiliers is also commemorated on the Haltwhistle memorial.)

The Plaque on the Halwhistle War Memorial bearing the name of Private Birkett
The Plaque on the Halwhistle War Memorial bearing the name of Private Birkett
Select the above image for a larger sized one which opens in a new window
Photo : Simon Armstrong of the War Memorials On Line website

The Plaque on the Halwhistle War Memorial bearing the names of Privates Birkett and Snowdon
The Plaque on the Halwhistle War Memorial bearing the name of Private Snowdon
Select the above image for a larger sized one which opens in a new window
Photo : Simon Armstrong of the War Memorials On Line website

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