Blyth, Northumberland

Having provided photos for someone researching Recce Corps, I found that Blyth has several military graves.

In time Blyth Town Council (of which I am this year's Mayor) will photograph and record them all and upload them to the world-wide-interwebby-thing , but in the meantime if anyone has specific requests, please EMail me at AlisdairGB--AT--Yahoo.co.uk with as much info as possible

 

Alisdair. having worked at Blyth for many years. can i ask if you are going to try and restore the range control towers on the beach they are both there, the ww1 and ww2 spotting towers. along with the gun rings and magazine building you may also be interested to know that Blyth harbour was a submarine base during the war and was the first base in the UK to have the ability for the subs to submerge in the pens and leave the harbour undetected ! there was a load of sheds there made by german pow's.... the sheds were burnt down by one of the plethera of local Smack heads, but the pens remain. blyth beach was deamed an ideal spot for an enemy amphibious attack due to the geography of the beach. many of the bunkers still exist but are home to cattle and some horses now...pass them every day just oposite Gloucester lodge farm


as for the cemetary Owen there is another cemetary right on the coast with a load of merchant navy and some other military graves too.

 

i am at work tonight.... i will have a walk around and get the details. however the cemetary itself is here Google Maps

links road blyth. from the road you can see four portland stone graves, they are in clusters all around the grounds. a lovely cemetary plagued by vandals ! there is another war memorial at the Ridley park which i believe is a ww1 memorial. and a further memorial gardens and statue on Cowpen road. All ww1 i believe

EDIT: owen i have tried to link the location but it just defaults to the google maps page the cemetary is just back on the links road at the junction of South Newsham Road

 

Alisdair, Welcome to the forum, I am sure there are other members on here who will take you up on your kind offer.

Cheers
Paul

 

Alisdair,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Regards
Tom

 

Another Blyth Cemetery to help those interested in the casualties that lie there.


Welcome to the Forum!



1 ABRAHAM, CHARLES FRANK, C F Second Engineer Officer ( Officer ) Merchant Navy12/02/194749 Grave 3732.
2 ATKINSON, GEORGE, G Flight Lieutenant ( Pilot Instr. ) 47413Royal Air Force01/03/194529 Grave 3613.
3 BRIGHT , C T Artificer Engineer Royal Navy15/10/1918Unknown C. 71.
4 BRISON, THOMAS, T Private 9166King's Own Scottish Borderers13/04/191933 C. 2853.
5 CALCOTT, STANLEY KENNETH, S K Ordinary Seaman C/JX 201574Royal Navy30/10/1940Unknown Grave 3545.
6 CARROLL , J Private 25/32Northumberland Fusiliers17/12/1917Unknown Spec. Memorial.
7 CONLEY, JAMES, J Private 14281786Royal Army Ordnance Corps04/06/194622 Cons. Grave 3660.
8 DAVISON, FRANCIS MURRAY, F M Corporal 2598353Royal Corps of Signals15/05/194422 Cons. Grave 3688.
9FELTON, JOHN THOMAS, J TPrivate M2/147855Royal Army Service Corps26/11/191827 U. 1673.
10 HATELY, THOMAS YOUNG, T Private 97163Royal Army Medical Corps16/02/191929 C. 2263.
11 HOWARD , E A Able Seaman 230663Royal Navy07/04/1916Unknown C. 73.
12 HOWE, EDWARD, E Lieutenant West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)04/01/191731 C. 80.
13 JACKSON , J Private 25/30Northumberland Fusiliers09/03/1919Unknown Spec. Memorial.
14 KING, LAWRENCE GEORGE, L G Private 5337067Royal Berkshire Regiment16/07/194018 Grave 3632.
15 LARCOMBE , R Petty Officer Telegraphist 309324(Ch)Royal Navy07/04/1916Unknown C. 98.
16 LINDORFF, STANLEY, S Ordinary Seaman Merchant Navy03/11/194319 Grave 1407.
17 LYONS, GEORGE JACK, G J Petty Officer Stoker 283619 (Ch.)Royal Navy29/04/191641 C. 99.
18 MARLAND , J Private CH/11430Royal Marine Light Infantry23/10/1918Unknown C. 97.
19 McNAMARA , J Private 42945Worcestershire Regiment01/02/1919Unknown U. 409.
20 MORLEY , J W Officer's Steward 2nd Class L/7828Royal Navy14/07/1919Unknown C. 75.
21 NASH, JOHN RICHARD, J R Engine Room Artificer 4th Class P/MX 636729Royal Navy30/01/194421 Grave 3419.
22 PARKER, GEORGE, G Serjeant 1466803Royal Artillery19/04/1946Unknown Cons. Plot. Grave 2631.
23 PATTERSON, WILLIAM, W Gunner 1737187Royal Artillery24/07/194132 Cons. Grave 3920.
24 POTTS, JOHN, J Boatswain ( Bosun ) Merchant Navy29/01/194033 Cons. grave 3565.
25 PRICE, ALFRED EDWIN, A E Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class P/M. 4110 Royal Navy15/12/194254 Grave 3606.
26 PUGMIRE, WILLIAM HENRY, W H Private 865Northumberland Fusiliers27/08/191424 C. 227.
27 PURTON , F T Private 2364Royal Fusiliers22/06/1918Unknown C. 2484.
28 RAFFLE , F W Stoker 7409/SRoyal Naval Reserve10/07/191824 C. 312.
29 REYNOLDS , J H Motor Mechanic MB/575Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve09/04/1917Unknown C. 1931.
30 REYNOLDS, WILLIAM HENRY, W H Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve22/08/1941Unknown Cons. Grave 3808.
31 ROBINSON, EDWARD KEENLYSIDE, E K Sergeant ( Obs. ) 751776Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve26/03/194121 Grave 696.
32 ROBSON, JAMES ERIC, J E Pilot Officer ( Nav. ) 63823Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve14/10/1941Unknown Grave 1254.
33 RUTHERFORD, MARGARET FROST, M F Leading Aircraftwoman 2091613Women's Auxiliary Air Force17/01/194524 Cons. Grave 3923.
34 SEAL, WALTER HENRY, W H Stoker 1st Class C/KX. 78756Royal Navy29/11/1940Unknown Grave 3604.
35 SEYMOUR, WILLIAM, W Seaman LT/X 20237ARoyal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service)24/12/193926 Grave 3421.
36 SMITH, GEORGE ALFRED, G A Chief Petty Officer C/J 21748Royal Navy06/10/194346 Grave 3482.
37 SMITH, THOMAS, T Serjeant 774009Royal Artillery25/04/194136 Grave 3631.
38 SMITH , J Stoker 1st Class K/9282Royal Navy07/04/1916Unknown C. 72.
39 SPENSLEY, THOMAS, T Flight Sergeant ( Pilot ) 1516977Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve02/05/194421 Grave 2318.
40 STATE , G W Stoker 1st Class K/13014(PO)Royal Navy03/05/1917Unknown C. 100.
41 SWINHOE, THOMAS WILLIAM, T W Private T/73684Royal Army Service Corps26/03/1942Unknown Grave 3630.
42 THORNTON, ROGER, R Private 14598218Royal Army Ordnance Corps21/10/194535 Cons. grave 3658.
43 WIGHAM, ROBERT, R Private 6891Northumberland Fusiliers05/10/191548 Spec. Memorial.
44 WILLIAMS, GEORGE HERON, G H Serjeant 3192492Royal Scots02/08/194427 Grave 3300.1

 

Alisdair. having worked at Blyth for many years. can i ask if you are going to try and restore the range control towers on the beach they are both there, the ww1 and ww2 spotting towers. along with the gun rings and magazine building you may also be interested to know that Blyth harbour was a submarine base during the war and was the first base in the UK to have the ability for the subs to submerge in the pens and leave the harbour undetected ! there was a load of sheds there made by german pow's.... the sheds were burnt down by one of the plethera of local Smack heads, but the pens remain. blyth beach was deamed an ideal spot for an enemy amphibious attack due to the geography of the beach. many of the bunkers still exist but are home to cattle and some horses now...pass them every day just oposite Gloucester lodge farm


as for the cemetary Owen there is another cemetary right on the coast with a load of merchant navy and some other military graves too.

Correction

The Blyth Battery is run by the Blyth Battery Volunteerrs, and details can be found on their website at Blyth Battery

The Open Days in the Blyth area were arranged with Blyth Valley Heritage Limited, which is where my confusion arose.

My apologies to all concerned

However, all of the following is correct:-

At Blyth was HMS Elfin; the shorebase was in the Wellesley Nautical School (now demolished) but remembered by a Submarine Anchor monument, at which there is a memorial service on the Sunday before Remembrance Sunday (so therefore this weekend)

The walk where it joins High Street to the Market Place is now named Elfin Walk.

Thanks for the list of names, I'll check with the Cemetery Superintendents and advise of any changes.

The Town Council don't have the responsibilty for cemetries or War Memorials, but I take a little pride in having the name of Guardsman Michael Sweeney's name added to Blyth War Memorial after his death in Afghanistan on 1st April this year.

 

there is another war memorial at the Ridley park which i believe is a ww1 memorial. and a further memorial gardens and statue on Cowpen road. All ww1 i believe



The Ridley Park memorial is Boer War, WW1 and WW2; the Cowpen memorial is WW1 and WW2, and Newsham is (I think) both WW1 and WW2.

There are other memorials in the library (formerly the Mechanics ) , Blyth Community College, the Masonic Lodge etc (all memorials to the fallen who belonged / studied / worked there).

Therein lies yet another project which is being undertaken elsewhere, to record the memorials of the area.

 

There are even a few RAAF Australians in the mix up there. Seven lads in 6 cemeteries.

GERNER, CHRISTIAN HENRY Flight Sergeant 433206 61 O T U 6/02/1945 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Grave 3111. BLYTH (COWPEN) CEMETERY

BELL, RONALD CHARLES Flying Officer 412884 57 O T U 27/02/1943 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. H. Grave 247. CHEVINGTON CEMETERY

BROWN, ERIC LINDSAY Flight Sergeant 401893 37 O T U 25/03/1943 24 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. H. Grave 281. CHEVINGTON CEMETERY

TROTTER, JAMES ARTHUR Pilot Officer 402454 148sq 24/08/1942 31 Royal Australian Air Force Australian HEDDON-ON-THE-WALL (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD

RUTHERFORD, ANTHONY BETHUNE EWART (DFC) Flying Officer 174074 182sq RAF 10/11/1944 21 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve UK Grave 12. KIRKNEWTON (ST. GREGORY) CHURCHYARD

HUTCHINSON, FRANK Flight Sergeant 429207 15 AFU 8/01/1945 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Cons. Grave 143. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (ST. ANDREW'S AND JESMOND) CEMETERY

ROSS, THEO GILSON Sergeant 420277 57 O T U RAF 9/04/1943 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian STAMFORDHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD

 

right i had a quick dive into the cemetary today got a few quick snaps before the snow got too heavy.....once my eye was trained on the type of head stone i was shocked to see hundreds more than i had first anticipated some from WW1 ! and one from 1964 ?

i will ultimately do the rest when i can but here is the start

 

just searched on Geoff's Search Engine, forBLYTH (COWPEN) CEMETERY here's the 41 WW2 graves for reference

001 ASH VJB - SS CHARLES PARSONS LONDON 14/05/1944 MERCHANT NAVY
002 BECKWITH JG C/MX 67908 - 11/03/1946 ROYAL NAVY
003 BELL A - SS ROSLEA LONDON 01/07/1946 MERCHANT NAVY
004 BELL WM - HMS LASSO 16/08/1945 CABLE SHIP PERSONNEL
005 BOULTER J - SS ASHBURY GLASGOW 08/01/1945 MERCHANT NAVY
006 BOYNES J - SS GREYFRIARS NEWCASTLE ON TYNE 11/01/1941 MERCHANT NAVY
007 BREADIN J 14669905 53 MEDIUM REGT 25/02/1945 ROYAL ARTILLERY
008 BROWN J 1444362 508 COAST REGT 08/03/1942 ROYAL ARTILLERY
009 CARSS EB 165049 - 15/04/1945 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
010 CHARLTON N 1036929 - 12/02/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
011 DEAN J 2112812 - 21/05/1945 WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
012 ELLIS EC 4466730 - 31/07/1945 WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (PRINCE OF WALES'S OWN)
013 FORRESTER R 1326617 2793 SQDN RAF REGT 14/06/1945 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
014 FURNESS T 929423 - 23/09/1946 ROYAL ARTILLERY
015 GARROD LE 1565479 - 19/04/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
016 GIBSON WE 1355869 - 07/11/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
017 HAKIN JT 1889935 223 FIELD PARK COY 08/04/1941 ROYAL ENGINEERS
018 HEBRON F 944060 76 SQDN 20/07/1942 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
019 HEMSLEY GW 628516 - 07/08/1941 ROYAL AIR FORCE
020 HERTWICK JF 10601658 RECONNAISSANCE CORPS 23/01/1942 RECONNAISSANCE CORPS, R.A.C.

021 HINSON RKG 7649153 - 03/06/1944 ROYAL ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS
022 HOOK D 9181 HMS ELFIN 16/06/1941 WOMEN'S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE
023 JAGGS JW - SS FARNSUM NETHERLANDS 26/02/1941 MERCHANT NAVY
024 JOHNSON S 1454028 - 09/03/1942 ROYAL ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS
025 JOHNSON J 2569174 1 LT TROOP 11/10/1947 ROYAL ARTILLERY
026 LOWDEN H 879004 152 HEAVY REGT 17/11/1939 ROYAL ARTILLERY
027 MALONEY M D/41906 7TH HD BN 16/09/1940 BEDFORDSHIRE AND HERTFORDSHIRE REGIMENT
028 MASON N P/SS. 122201 HMS BRONTOSAURUS 25/05/1945 ROYAL NAVY
029 MURPHY F - SS POLGRANGE 27/07/1940 MERCHANT NAVY
030 NESBIT JR 1108813 - 02/04/1943 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
031 OATES AJ 2092833 - 09/09/1944 WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
032 PATTERSON H 3259 - 02/04/1942 WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
033 PICKERING SW - SS DALEWOOD LONDON 20/08/1941 MERCHANT NAVY
034 PROUD RG 1442411 508 COAST REGT 22/05/1942 ROYAL ARTILLERY
035 REED A 937139 29 SQDN 01/07/1940 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
036 REYNOLDS W D/JX 151968 HM SUBMARINE H50 29/08/1942 ROYAL NAVY
037 RUTHERFORD TW D/212W - 13/09/1946 ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE
038 SELF GT D/22598 10TH HD BN 12/02/1940 ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
039 SIMPSON J 1819861 - 04/09/1942 PIONEER CORPS
040 WATSON LD 619667 - 30/11/1943 ROYAL AIR FORCE
041 WILSON R D/22261 10TH HD BN 05/11/1939 ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS

Hi Owen,

Did you just look for British deaths.

This RAAF lad is there.

GERNER, CHRISTIAN HENRY Flight Sergeant 433206 61 O T U 6/02/1945 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Grave 3111. BLYTH (COWPEN) CEMETERY UK Northumberland

I don't have the photo as yet but his name is registered there.

 

Alisdair -
just a small point - but two numbers of deceased struck me as being odd

007 - Breadin J. - 14669905 - 25/02/1945

008 - Brown J. - 1444362 - 08/ 03/ 1942-

somehow that doesn't gell with the General Service numbers issued in early 1942 - and my own number of 14377*** issued in late 1942 - unless of course they were still using Royal Artillery numbers at that early and late dates.
Cheers

 

Sorry guys i should have clarified this is not from the Cowpen Road Cemetary, it is from the Links Road cemetary located spitting distance from the sea