The Response 1914 – Northumberland Fusiliers Memorial

A Monument Born from Personal Gratitude and Collective Memory

The Response 1914 emerged from a deeply personal story intertwined with national sacrifice. Sir George and Lady Renwick commissioned this memorial in 1927, grateful that all five of their sons had returned safely from the First World War. Yet their gratitude extended beyond their own family—the monument was designed to honour the thousands of men who answered the call to arms in 1914 and those who did not return. The memorial was gifted to Newcastle in recognition of the broader sacrifice made by the city and the Northumberland Fusiliers, particularly the "Pals" battalions raised by the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce between August and October 1914. These included B Company of the 9th Battalion and the 16th, 18th, and 19th Service Battalions, units composed of men who enlisted together, fought together, and often fell together.

The Artistry of William Goscombe John

The memorial was sculpted by William Goscombe John, a Royal Academician and one of Britain's foremost sculptors of the early twentieth century. Unveiled on 5 July 1923 in the presence of HRH Prince of Wales, the work represents a masterpiece of commemorative sculpture. Rather than a static figure or simple inscription, John created a dynamic, emotionally charged composition that captures the very moment of response—the instant when ordinary men stepped forward to serve their country. The sculpture demonstrates John's ability to infuse bronze with movement, dignity, and human emotion, transforming metal into a living narrative.

The Composition: A Narrative in Bronze and Granite

The memorial consists of a substantial rusticated granite screen with an abutting plinth at front and rear. The front face displays a large group of bronze figures arranged in high relief, while the rear features three granite figures. The front composition is titled "The Response 1914" and depicts soldiers and would-be recruits being led forward by two drummer boys. The scene is densely populated with human activity: men in uniform and working clothes carry tools or rifles, some saying goodbye to families who accompany them, others waving in farewell. Above this earthly scene, flags fly and a winged angel figure soars at the front, sounding a trumpet—a symbol of divine call and transcendence. The rear of the memorial features the figure of St George, flanked by a Northumberland Fusilier in First World War uniform and another in the uniform of 1674, the year the regiment was raised, creating a visual connection between past and present military service.

Inscriptions and Heraldic Language

The memorial bears inscriptions in Latin and English that deepen its meaning. The Latin mottos "Non Sibi Sed Patriae" (Not for themselves but for their country) and "Quo Fata Vocant" (Whither fate calls) frame the monument's purpose. The English inscription reads: "To Commemorate the Raising of B Company, 9th Battalion and the 16th, 18th and 19th Service Battalions, Northumberland Fusiliers, by the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce August–October 1914." These words anchor the memorial to a specific historical moment and institutional act, transforming a personal commission into a public statement of collective remembrance.

Heritage Status and Preservation

The Response 1914 holds Grade I listing status on the National Heritage List for England, recognising it as a building or structure of exceptional interest. This protection ensures that the memorial's artistic and historical significance is formally acknowledged and safeguarded for future generations. The memorial's location in the public gardens north of St Thomas the Martyr Church on Barras Bridge places it within a historic ecclesiastical setting, adding spiritual resonance to its commemorative purpose. The grounds were donated by the Council and Trustees of St Mary Magdalene Hospital, demonstrating how the memorial became embedded within Newcastle's civic and religious landscape.

A Timeless Tribute to Sacrifice and Response

More than a century after its unveiling, The Response 1914 remains one of the most striking and emotive war memorials in Britain. Its power lies not in abstract symbolism but in the specificity of human experience—the faces, gestures, and relationships captured in bronze. The memorial speaks to the courage of those who enlisted, the anguish of those left behind, and the enduring human cost of war. For visitors, it offers a moment of reflection on the choices made in 1914 and their consequences, rendered tangible through the genius of sculptural art.