Roxy

REMEMBRANCE: NEWCASTLE "NOT FOR SELF BUT FOR COUNTRY" "The Response 1914" is a dramatic war memorial which sits at Barras Bridge, in the grounds of St Thomas the Martyr Church. It was commissioned and gifted by Sir George and Lady Renwick to commemorate the raising of the Northumberland Fusiliers "Commercial" and "Pals" battalions in 1914, and sculpted by Sir William Goscombe John. It depicts recruits, drummer boys, families saying farewell, and a winged angel sounding a trumpet. The front says: NON SIBI SED PATRIAE [Not for Self but for Country] THE RESPONSE 1914 It is thought to be based on the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers in April 1915, when they gathered at Gosforth, marched down the Great North Road to Central Station and to the battlefields of Europe. The rear of the memorial features a carved figure of St George, flanked by a 1647 Northumberland Fusilier and a 1919 Fusilier, with the words: QUO FATA VOCANT [Whither the Fates Call] TO COMMEMORATE THE RAISING OF THE B COY 9TH BATT & THE 16TH 18TH & 19TH SERVICE BATTALIONS NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS BY THE NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AUG-OCT 1914 THE GIFT OF SIR GEORGE RENWICK BT DL AND LADY RENWICK MCMXXIII It was unveiled on 5 July 1923 by HRH The Prince of Wales (who would become Edward VIII), and later re-dedicated on 25 October 2007 by Prince Philip. Pic and info from fabulousnorth.com/the-respon… which tells us that "The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers raised 52 Battalions throughout the 1914 - 1919 conflict, more than any other Regiment." --- Sign On to Stay in Touch at aforceforgood.uk/sign-up