Photo:
Menin Gate Memorial
West Pelton Churchyard
In St. Paul's Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Isabella Best
who died Sept 1st 1916 aged 43 years
also Thomas Best
husband of the above
who died Aug. 27th 1932 aged 61 years
Also Pte. Henry Best D.L.I.
son of the above
Killed in Action in France 18th May 1915
Aged 22 years
Henry was born at Chester-le-Street and enlisted at Beamish.
Sergeant Lowery of 'B' Company was killed along with Private Harry Best whilst seven men were also wounded. They were in a Working party trying to improve the trenches. Every time they started to advance to work on the trenches they were heavily shelled. The trench was from a farm at the north-eastern corner of Potijze Wood in a north-west direction to the St Jean Wieltje road and was water logged. After these casualties the battalion withdrew and waited till after dark to complete the work.
Harry Best is remembered at West Pelton on W112.01 and at Durham in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 122
