Memorial
Birmingham Tramways Department Composite
Current Location
West Midlands Travel Social Club, 205, Wheelers Lane, Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 0ST, England
OS Grid Reference
SP 08303 81121
Names listed on this memorial
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© WMR-17346
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- Type of Memorial
- Composite
- WMR Reference Number
- 17346
- Description
- Three stepped base surmounted by wall with inset panels with names and dedicatory inscription on it. In the centre of the wall rises a column with an urn on the top. There is a wreath with ribbons carved in relief at the base of the front of the column. The centre panel sits under the relief-carved wreath and is flanked by 4 panels on each side that are engraved with dedications and the names of the fallen. The furthermost panels on each side of the memorial are panels made of black marble rather than the seven grey stone recessed panels in the middle.
- Inscription
- CENTRAL SECTION: OUR/ GLORIOUS / DEAD / CITY OF BIRMINGHAM / TRAMWAYS DEPARTMENT / TO THE / GLORIOUS MEMORY OF / OUR COMRADES / WHO DURING / THE GREAT WAR / MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / FOR HOME AND COUNTRY / 1914 - 1918. / ALSO THE SECOND / GREAT WAR / 1939 - 1945 FLANKING THE CENTRAL TABLET FROM LEFT: 1,WW2: ACOCKS GREEN/ (NAMES)/ ARTHUR STREET/ (NAMES)/ BARFORD STREET/ (NAMES)/ BUILDINGS/ (NAMES)/ COTTERIDGE/ (NAMES)/ HARBORNE/ (NAMES)/ HEAD OFFICE/ (NAMES)/ HIGHGATE RD/ (NAMES)/ HOCKLEY/ (NAMES)/ KYOTTS LAKE RD/ (NAMES)/ MILLER ST (NAMES) 2, WW1: ARTHUR STREET DEPOT/ (NAMES)/ BOURNBROOK & COTTERIDGE DEPOTS/ (NAMES) 3, WW1: HIGHGATE ROAD DEPOT/ (NAMES)/ HOCKLEY DEPOT/ (NAMES) 4, WW1: KYOTTS LAKE WORKS/ (NAMES)/ MILLER STREET, WITTON, & PERRY BARR DEPOTS/ (NAMES) 5, WW1: HEAD OFFICE STAFF/ (NAMES)/ MOSELEY ROAD DEPOT/ (NAMES)/ OVERHEAD DEPARTMENT/ (NAMES) 6, WW1: PERMANENT WAY DEPARTMENT/ (NAMES)/ TENNANT STREET GARAGE/ (NAMES) 7, WW1: ROSEBERRY STREET DEPOT/ (NAMES)/ WASHWOOD HEATH DEPOT/ (NAMES) 8, WW2: LIVERPOOL ST/ (NAMES)/ OVERHEAD DEPT/ (NAMES)/ PERRY BAR/ (NAMES)/ ROSEBERY ST/ (NAMES)/ SELLY OAK/ (NAMES)/ TENNANT ST./ (NAMES)/ TYBURN RD/ (NAMES)/ WASHWOOD HEATH/ (NAMES)/ WITTON/ (NAMES)/ YARDLEY WOOD/ (NAMES) LOWER TABLETS: CIVILIAN MEMBERS 1939 - 45 / (NAMES)
- War
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Number Commemorated
- 236
- Died
- 236
- Information shown
- surname, depot
- Order of names
- depot,surname
- War
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Number Commemorated
- 139
- Died
- 139
- Information shown
- surname, depot
- Order of names
- Depot, surname
- War
- Second World War - civilians
- Number Commemorated
- 18
- Died
- 18
- Information shown
- surname
- Order of names
- surname
- Sponsor Type
- other
- Sponsored By
- Tramway workers covered the entire cost.
Ceremonies
Unveiled
14 May 1922
Lieutenant F. Clarke MM, c2000 tramway workers in uniform, Lord Mayor (Alderman David Davis), the Bishop of Birmingham, the Town Clerk, the Chairman and members of the Tramways Committee, Mr Alfred Baker (general manager), and other officials
Dedicated
14 May 1922
Bishop of Birmingham
Components
- Memorial
Height: 9144 mm
Width: 4877 mm
Depth: 610 mm
Made from: Stone, Marble - Black
Condition: Good
Historic England
Grade: II
List Entry: 1483490
This war memorial was listed following a project with a group of Yr8 pupils at Swanshurst School. The application was led by Jim Allberry, Head of History at Swanshurst. Reasons for listing from Historic England website: Historic interest: * as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20. Architectural interest: * as an elegantly-designed and well-executed memorial which survives well.
- "Birmingham Corporation Tramways War Memorial and Gates." Historic England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1483490. Accessed 14 August 2024.
- Smith, Douglas H. From Trams to Trenches: the Story of the Men from the Birmingham Tramways Department who Lost their Lives in the First World War. National Express UK Bus, 2014.