Northumbrian Gunner: Holy Island War Memorial

The war memorial on Holy Island is located on a small hill on the south of the island overlooking the harbour.

Holy Island War Memorial

It commemorates 8 men from World War One and 3 from World War Two. The memorial was unveiled by on 4 June 1922 by Major Morley Crossman DSO.

The memorial cross was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens who designed the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, and the Stone of Remembrance which appears in all large Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries. Lutyens connection to Holy Island pre dated World War One when he was the architect for the renovation of Holy Island Castle.

Holy Island War Memorial

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The inscription commemorating those lost during World War One reads;

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF

OUR GLORIOUS DEAD

1914-1918

Holy Island War Memorial World War One

ROSSMAN William Ronald Morley

Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Killed in action 2nd November 1914

Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

CROMARTY George Douglas

Private 30732, 2nd/4th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Killed in action 21st March 1918

Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France.

PATTERSON James B

Private 46763, 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

Killed in action 18th September 1918 in France & Flanders. Aged 18

Buried in CHAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY, HOLNON, Aisne, France.

WILSON William

Private, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (RDF)

TOUGH Joseph

Driver Gunner 69200 No. 4. Depot, Royal Garrison Artillery

Died 24th November 1918. Aged 25

Buried in BYKER AND HEATON CEMETERY, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, Northumberland.

SHELL Adam

Deck Hand 6708DA, H.M. Trawler "Ameer", Royal Naval Reserve

Died 18th March 1916. Aged 34.

Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL.

MARKWELL James

Deck Hand 6710DA, H.M. Trawler "Holdene", Royal Naval Reserve.

Died 2nd February 1917. Aged 46.

Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent.

MARKWELL Thomas

R.N.R.T.A.

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The inscription commemorating those lost during World War Two reads;

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF

OUR GLORIOUS DEAD

1939-1945

HENDERSON Adam Shell

Seaman LT/JX 400013, H.M. Trawler Kingston Beryl, Royal Naval Patrol Service.

Died 25th December 1943. Aged 20

Commemorated on LOWESTOFT NAVAL MEMORIAL.

WALKER Thomas

Stoker 1st Class, H.M.S. Hood, Royal Navy

Died 24th May 1941. Aged 26

Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL.

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At the going down of the sun
We will remember them

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In the St Mary's Church, three of those who lost thier lives during World War One have memorial plaques dedicated to them.

Holy Island St Mary's Church

Holy Island St Mary's Church
Private G.D. Cromarty

Holy Island St Mary's Church
Private JB Patterson

Holy Island St Mary's Church
J. Markwell

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Commemorated on the Holy Island war memorial is Stoker 1st Class Thomas Walker. Thomas was born on 13th June 1914 in Holy Island, Northumberland to Thomas and Lily Walker. He was the husband of Agnes Walker.

Stoker 1st Class Thomas Walker

Thomas was killed on 24th May 1941 serving on HMS Hood.

HMS Hood

In May 1941 the battle cruiser HMS Hood and the battleship Prince of Wales were ordered to intercept the German battleships Bismark and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen attempting to break out into the North Atlantic to attack Allied merchant shipping.

The British ships located the two German ships on May 23. Early the next morning the Hood and Prince of Wales went into battle opening the Battle of the Denmark Strait. After only 8 minutes HMS Hood was hit by shells from the Bismarck hit the boat deck, a huge jet of flame burst out from the vicinity of the mainmast, followed by a devastating magazine explosion. This explosion destroyed the aft part of the ship broke the back of Hood, and within three minutes the ship sank stern first.