There is an information board next to the memorial with this interesting information.
The Response 1914
By Sir William Goscombe John, Raised by Sir George &
Lady Renwick. Inaugurated 5th July 1923.
About the Memorial
A poignant portrayal of the spirit of 1914 and the patriotic confidence with which Britain
entered the war this narrative sculpture depicts soldiers bidding farewell to loved ones and
marching off to war.
The memorial was given bySir George Renwick (local ship owner and MP for Newcastle
Central and Lady Renwick to commemorate the raising of the B Coy 9th Battalion and
the 16th, 18th and 19th Service Battaltions Northumberland Fusileers by the Newcastle and
Gateshead Chamber of Commerce, August - October 1914. It was also raised to celebrate Sir
George Renwick's attainment of 50 years of commercial life in Newcastle and the safe return
of the Renwick's five sons from "The Great War".
After a meeting of the Council and Trustees of St. Mary Magdalene Hospital in February
1923 it was agreed that a portion of the grounds of St. Thomas's Church should be given to
the city for the monument.
Although the title of the monument refers to the original 1st World War "Call to Arms" the subject
of this evocative sculpture is thought to focus on the massing of the 5th Northumberland
Fusiliers in April 1915. Led by "Drummer Boys" they marched from their camp in Gosforth
Park down the Great North Road, through the Haymarket and on to Central Station, en route
for the battlefields of Belgium and France. The battalion's route was lined with well-wishers,
parents and children, some cheering, some weeping.
The memorial was inaugurated on 5th July 1923 by HRH The Prince of Wales before an
enormous concourse of spectators, a guard of honour from the Northumberland Fusileers as
well as ex-sailors and ex-soldiers.
Alan Borg, former Director General of the Imperial War Museum described the now Grade
II* Listed monument as, "...one of the finest sculptural ensembles on any British monument
..." noting it worthy of recognition as another key work in the genre of its artist Sir William
Goscombe John R.A. who had previously studied under Rodin in Paris and was latterly
responsible for the design of the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935). The memorial
was restored and rededicated in 2007.
On the front of the memorial drummer boys lead Northumberland Fusileers and the
'ordinary' men of the district, most of whom are dressed in working clothes, some carrying
onwards with interludes of passionate and possibly tearful farewells taking place.
On the rear of the monument you can see relief sculptures of
| An original Northumberland Fusileer - 1674 |
St. George in medieval military dress |
A Northumberland Fusileer 1919 |
The regiment's Latin motto Quo Fata Vocant (Whither the Fates call) is also carved on the monument near to St. George.
The history of the Northumberland Fusileers can be traced back to the formation of
"The Irish Regiment" (1674) which was raised in Holland as part of the English Brigade
St. George and the Dragon, the emblem of the Garter, has formed the central part of the
regimental badge probably since its earliest days.
Throughout "The Great War" The Royal Northumberland Fusillers raised 52 battalions,
more than any other regiment.
Wilfred John Matthews
Model for the drummer boys?
In 1919 Wilfred John Matthews enlisted
in the Goldstream Guards as a drummer
boy. Both photographic and oral evidence
suggest that he modelled for Goscombe
John over a period of a number of weeks.
Many similarities can also be seen between
Wilfred's face amd those of the drummer
boys on the monument.
An old newspaper article, signed by
Goscombe John and given to Wilfred
confirms that many of the other faces
were drawn from Identity Certificate (IC)
photographs and is supported by the fact
that the faces appear more as portraits
rather than idealised representations.
Looking at the way the drummer boys are
poised and holding the drums it would have
been difficult for Goscombe John to sculpt
drummers in action without having a model
for reference