Memorial
Greet County Primary School, Birmingham - WW1 Roll of Honour (Lost)
Photo of the replica of Greet County Primary School's 'Lost' WW1 Roll of Honour
Source: Copyright Tony Woolley (WMO 223115)
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Names listed on this memorial
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© WMR-17328
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- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 17328
- Description
- Nowy-headed copper plaque, with oak surround. The plaque had a foliate border, with a wreath (in relief) at top-centre. The central panel had a relief shield draped by a garland, in which the names of the fallen were recorded. The left and right panels recorded the names of those who served and survived. The inscription was in relief lettering. Although the memorial was lost during WW2, the school has a painting of the memorial set in a wooden frame: this was made by a former pupil using an old photograph.
- Inscription
- 1914 1918/ THE GREAT WAR / PRO/ PATRIA/ LIBERTY HONOUR JUSTICE / (NAMES) / IN MEMORIAM / (Names) / MEMBERS OF STAFF / (Names)
- War
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Number Commemorated
- 526
- Served
- 478
- Died
- 48
- Information shown
- Rank, forename initials, surname, whether died or survived, decorations; service or regiment for members of staff only
- Order of names
- Grouped by whether died or survived, then alphabetical by surname.
- Additional Information
- There were 45 ex-pupils and 3 members of staff who died in the war
- Maker(s)
Birmingham branch of the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops, Makers
- Sponsor Type
- other
- Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information
- 'THE CHILDREN PAID FOR THE MEMORIAL BY DONATING 1D EACH AND ANY HP SAUCE BOTTLES AND JAM JARS THEY HAD. THE HEADTEACHER THEN SOLD THE THE BOTTLES AND JARS BACK TO THE FACTORY AND THE PROCEEDS WERE PUT TOWARDS THE MEMORIAL'. (REF: VOICE, P13)
- Maintenance History
- According to the War Memorials Trust, 'During the school's Centennial celebrations in 1992 an ex pupil asked where the memorial had gone. The current staff had not known there had ever been a war memorial! Another ex-pupil then furnished the school with a photo of the memorial sited as the backdrop to the stage in the large school hall. It was from this photo that a painted copy of the memorial was made by a former pupil'. 1940: The plaque went missing after the School was bombed on the night of 11th December 1940. When the children returned to the School on 26th February 1941 it was missing. October 1920: WW1 memorial was unveiled, reportedly listing '523 old boys who served in the war (35 of whom paid the supreme sacrifice)'.
Ceremonies
Unveiled
22 October 1920
Sir William Bowater
Components
- Plaque
Height: 8FT
Width: 5FT 9IN
Made from: Copper
Condition: Lost
Report a Concern
- War Memorials Trust Reference Number
- 223115
To report a concern about the condition of this memorial, visit War Memorial Trust.
Help update these details if the condition is wrong
- Birmingham Daily Gazette Saturday 23/10/1920 reported: 'IN MEMORY OF OLD BOYS. A large handsome beaten copper tablet, erected in the large hall of Greet Connell School in memory of 523 old boys who served in the war (35 of whom paid the supreme sacrifice) was unveiled last night by Alderman Sir William Bowater'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000669/19201023/055/0003
- British History Online's entry for Greet School reads: 'GREET COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL, Warwick Road.(27) Greet Bd. Sch. opened 1892 by Yardley Sch. Bd.(22) Accom. 1,035 M, I.(21) The boys were transferred from Bard St. Bd. Sch., q.v.(22) Accom. in Friends' Institute, Warwick Rd. used 1904–10. Bd. of Ed. demanded minor improvements in premises 1912. Reorganized 1932 for JM, I.(21) Depts. united 1941. Damaged by enemy action and repaired 1942, 1947. Tyseley Temporary Cty. Primary Sch. became an annexe of this sch. 1954. Accom. 1961: 13 classrooms, 2 halls, nursery (28)'. [Figures in brackets are the footnote numbers re British History Online's source of the relevant information, which can be found on their website]. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol7/pp501-548
- War Memorials Trust's record of the replica (painted) Roll of Honour includes the following information re this original memorial: 'No-one is sure when the memorial was removed. However it is thought that it may have been removed for safe keeping after part of the hall was damaged when a bomb hit the school in WW2. It's whereabouts are unknown. During the school's Centennial celebrations in 1992 an ex pupil asked where the memorial had gone. The current staff had not known there had ever been a war memorial! Another ex pupil then furnished the school with a photo of the memorial sited as the backdrop to the stage in the large school hall. It was from this photo that a painted copy of the memorial was made by a former pupil. It is understood that the original Roll Of Honour was made by the Birmingham Branch of Lord Roberts memorial workshop and was unveiled at the school by Sir William Bowater on the 22nd October 1920. It was 8 feet by 5 feet 9 inches and made from 14 gauge copper sheet mounted on oak. The Roll contains the names of 526 Greet Old Boys who joined His Majesty's Forces, including 48 killed of which 3 were members of staff'. https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/223115/
- https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?search/1017300/&q=greet+primary+school&t=post&c[child_nodes]=1&c[nodes][0]=40&o=date