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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Newcastle United Football Club |
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The
Newcastle United Football Club War Memorial Outside St. James Park Stadium.
Photo : Skyscraper
City
The recently unveiled Newcastle United Football Club's War Memorial is located pposite the Alder Sweeney Memorial Garden at the Milburn Stand, St. James' Park Football Stadium. The memorial was unveiled in November 2018 and replaced a memorial plaque which had originally been displayed in the Milburn Stand covered walkway.
The original plaque is situated on he new memorial between the First World War commemorations and the Second World War commemorations. On the extreme left is the badge of the Newcastle United Football Club. The badge and the commemorations are in gilt.
23 former players with the club are commemorated as having lost their lives in the First World War, and 7 in the Second World War.
3 soldiers who served in the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the memorial.
2nd Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell, VC. 9th Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment. Former professional football player. Son of Smith and
Annie Bell, of Western Flats, Queen's Rd., Harrogate; husband of Rhoda Bell,
of Wilmslow, Cheshire. Killed 10 July 1916. Aged 25.
Buried GORDON DUMP CEMETERY.
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29740, dated 8th Sept.,
1916, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery. During an
attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a
hostile machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative,
crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte.
Batey, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine
gun, shooting the firer with his revolver, and destroying gun and personnel
with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and ensured the success of
the attack. Five days later this very gallant officer lost his life performing
a very similar act of bravery.
(Reserve full-back at St. James’ Park during seasons 1910/11 and 1911/12
who moved to Bradford Park Avenue just before the First World War.)
Private Joseph Forster. 15578. 9th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Killed 7 October 1916.
Born Shankhouse, Enlisted North Shields.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3A & 3D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.
(A half-back with United’s second-string during the 1890s, he was over
40 years of age when he volunteered for the Army.)
Captain Thomas Sowerby Rowlandson, MC. 4th Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Samuel and Isabel Rowlandson, of Newton Morrell,
Darlington. Killed on 15 September 1916. Aged 36.
Buried BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT.
Thomas Sowerby Rowlandson was born in Newton Morrell in June 1880. He was
Baptised at Holy Trinity, Darlington on 21 June 1880. In the 1881 Census his
father ran a 1030 acre farm, employing 20 men and 3 boys. 5 domestics were
employed in the house.
From Robert Coulson's biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"He was at Cambridge University, entering Trinity Hall in 1901. He also
played football as a goalkeeper with Newcastle United in the 1905/6 season
and had spells with Sunderland and the Corinthian Casuals."
( He spent a season at Sunderland (1905-1906) where he played 12 games before
coming to Newcastle the following season. At Newcastle he was described as
being a "lithesome" goalkeeper. However, he really had little opportunity
as he was always seen as third choice behind the great Jimmy Lawrence and
Bob Crumley. Hence, his single apearance playing for Newcastle.)
First
World War Commemorations on the Newcastle United Football Club War Memorial
Outside St. James Park Stadium.
Photo : Skyscraper
City
The
Newcastle United Football Club War Memorial Outside St. James Park Stadium.
Photo : Skyscraper
City
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