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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: River Tyne Lass on Wednesday 06 September 17 13:29 BST (UK)
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A Whitley Bay man called George Potter (age 32) who was killed in action in the Great War exactly one hundred years ago - 6 September 1917 - will be commemorated today. He was a former bell ringer at Christ Church, at North Shields. In honour of his memory the Christ Church bells will ring this evening, a half muffled quarter peal lasting 45 minutes.
His name appears on the memorial pulpit in the Church.
His service number was 275089.
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What a waste of life. For what purpose?
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Nice thought, we 'should' remember.
Boo
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A Whitley Bay man called George Potter (age 32) who was killed in action in the Great War exactly one hundred years ago - 6 September 1917 - will be commemorated today. He was a former bell ringer at Christ Church, at North Shields. In honour of his memory the Christ Church bells will ring this evening, a half muffled quarter peal lasting 45 minutes.
What a lovely way of commemorating him. Thank you for letting us know.
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Splendid way to remember.
Killed with many others of his battalion during an unsuccessful attack on enemy positions in the area to the west of Zonnebeke during the 3rd Battle of Ypres. A company and a half were captured and heavy casualties suffered by the remainder. He is at rest in Tyne Cot Cemetery.
MaxD
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Beautiful way to remember and honour him. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, barryd, Boo, JenB, MaxD and dbree for all your responses to my post today regarding George Potter who was killed in action on today's date exactly one hundred years ago.
Although, George is not a relative of mine when I read his story in my local newspaper and how this former bell ringer is going to be commemorated I thought I should share this news. What a fitting tribute of Christ Church to honour one of their former bell ringers!
I am sure this will mean a lot to any relatives to know that he is honoured and remembered in such a beautiful way.
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There will be another peal on 30th November in memory of Rifleman J T Hogg. http://www.christchurchringers.org.uk/ (click on 'Diary' top right)
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There will be another peal on 30th November in memory of Rifleman J T Hogg. http://www.christchurchringers.org.uk/ (click on 'Diary' top right)
Looks like his brother was also killed
Church bell-ringer Mike Scott researched copies of the Tynemouth parish church monthly magazine published during the war and the way in which it reflected a change in attitudes as the conflict dragged on and local communities reeled from the scale of the losses.
War victims included church bell-ringing brothers John and Robert Hogg.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/map-reveals-tynemouths-victims-first-1351558
https://twitter.com/NorthumbriaWW1/status/856417382394449922
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Thank you JenB, for these additional interesting posts.
The yellow dot map really highlights the magnitude of loss and how moving and heartrendering the last words of Robert Hogg -
"My poor wife, my poor bairns". :'(
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What a lovely way to remember and honour him.
He fought in one of the worst battles of WW1 in conditions probably the worst of the whole Western Front.
Even before the autumn rains fell the area was inundated as the dykes were ruined in the continual bombardment, also an elderly Belgian opened the coastal sluice gatesas soon as Germany invaded so that at least some partof Belgium would not be in enemy hands.
This meant every trench dug acted as a drain.
We`ve seen the pictures, men and horses ,gun carriages etc sunk in deep.
What madness,utter inhumanity and from their own top brass.
Quote from a WW1 veteran.
Four men in a railway carriage.
One said"We ought to introduce ourselves, I am general Brown"
Second, " am General Smith"
Third, " am General Jones"
Fourth,"I am a sergeant and I have three illegitimate sons, all three are generals"......!
That is from "Last Post "memoirs of the last few WW1 veterans like Harry Patch and Henry Allingham.
Viktoria.
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Thanks for your post Viktoria and the anecdote. I agree
that sending men and animals out like this to what in many cases would have been almost certain death was total madness and inhumanity by their top brass. :'(
www.newsguardian.co.uk/news/north-shields-bell-rember-fallen-comrades-100-years-on-1-8730081
dandn.awardspace.co.uk/new/greatwar.html