Tynemouth Borough, which included the towns of Tynemouth and North Shields, was an area of strategic value to the national war effort as it contained the mouth of the river Tyne and was the entry point to the most important munitions center in Britain. Industry upriver included the manufacture of munitions, armaments, and military and civilian ships, whilst the port of Tyne was one of the busiest in the country with its internationally important coal export industry.

Away from its industrial importance the area was also a hotbed of military recruitment. In common with the rest of the...