Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside
Reference
C112.01
Place
COCKFIELD
Map ref
1224
Original Location
On north side of the village green on Front Street.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 7th October 1922 by Mr. W.h. Hustler, Chairman of the North Bitchburn Coal Company; in place of Lord Gainford, who sent a telegram regretting his absence. Dedicated by Rev. J.W. Scudamore, curate of Cockfield.
b. Unveiled 28th Nov
b. Unveiled 28th Nov
Memorial Description
Cross on tapering octagonal shaft, total height 13 feet 6 inches, on a square pedestal with three steps. Set in a raised enclosure about 12 feet square surrounded by a stone wall of three courses on outer side, two on the inner side rising to 7 at the corners, with iron chains and small iron gate. Chain on the south side is missing.
The dedication and names are on the pedestal, the quotation is on the front riser of the top step.
The names for 1939-45 are carried on the riser of the second step at the front, which seems to have been chamfered for the purpose, with the dates set into the corners. All lettering is in sans serif capitals.
The dedication and names are on the pedestal, the quotation is on the front riser of the top step.
The names for 1939-45 are carried on the riser of the second step at the front, which seems to have been chamfered for the purpose, with the dates set into the corners. All lettering is in sans serif capitals.
Materials used
Kemnay granite
Inscription
a. To the Glory of God / and / in thankful remembrance / of the men / from this parish / who gave their lives / for us / in the Great War / 1914-1918.
“Greater love hath no man than this”
b. 1939-1945
“Greater love hath no man than this”
b. 1939-1945
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee.
Cost
£253
How money was raised
Public subscription
Ownership and maintenance
Handed over to the Parish Council at the unveiling ceremony.
Notes
1. A drinking fountain was an original proposition put forward.
2. The siting of the memorial on the village green instead of in the cemetery was passed by 34 votes to 33.
3. “It was a notable record that practically the whole of the 45 men commemorated by the cross volunteered to fight for their country before the introduction of conscription”.
4. At a subsequent meeting, it was announced that the funds had been fully raised. “The cost was £253, the amount raised was £258, and as the expenses amounted to £4 there remained in hand a balance of £1. It was decided to hand this to the Parish Council for the purchase of trees to plant on the green”.
5. The memorial had been renovated in time for the 1939-45 dedication.
6. North Bitchburn Coal Co. owned the Gordon House Colliery where most of the men in the village were employed.
2. The siting of the memorial on the village green instead of in the cemetery was passed by 34 votes to 33.
3. “It was a notable record that practically the whole of the 45 men commemorated by the cross volunteered to fight for their country before the introduction of conscription”.
4. At a subsequent meeting, it was announced that the funds had been fully raised. “The cost was £253, the amount raised was £258, and as the expenses amounted to £4 there remained in hand a balance of £1. It was decided to hand this to the Parish Council for the purchase of trees to plant on the green”.
5. The memorial had been renovated in time for the 1939-45 dedication.
6. North Bitchburn Coal Co. owned the Gordon House Colliery where most of the men in the village were employed.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: C. Sanders; Simon Raine; Kevin Richardson
Darlington and Stockton Times (North) 17/07/1922; 14/10/1922 reports unveiling; 03/02/1923 reports all funds had been raised.
Teesdale Mercury 11/10/1922
Auckland and County Chronicle 15/07/1922; 20/07/1922; 12/10/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo 09/10/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Dispatch 30/11/1948 reports dedication for 1939-45.
The People’s History – Gaunless Valley (Tom Hutchinson) carries an early photo.
Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13
Darlington and Stockton Times (North) 17/07/1922; 14/10/1922 reports unveiling; 03/02/1923 reports all funds had been raised.
Teesdale Mercury 11/10/1922
Auckland and County Chronicle 15/07/1922; 20/07/1922; 12/10/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo 09/10/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Dispatch 30/11/1948 reports dedication for 1939-45.
The People’s History – Gaunless Valley (Tom Hutchinson) carries an early photo.
Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; C. Sanders; John and Mavis Dixon; Kevin Richardson; Howard and Christine Jemmeson; Staff at Clayport Library; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
Paul Simpson is researching these names. Contact: pwsimpson@live.co.uk
Kevin Richardson is researching the names on this memorial Contact: knrichardson53@gmail.com
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (C112.01)
COCKFIELD Village green
Front face of plinth
To the Glory of God
and
in Thankful Remembrance
of the Men
from this Parish
who gave their lives
for us
in the Great War
1914-1918.
----------------------------------------------------------
On top step
“Greater love hath no man than this”
----------------------------------------------------------
Second face Third face Fourth face
Alderson, Thomas W. Harvey, Stephen Lee, Jeremiah C.
Bradley, Ebenezer Harvey, George Pinkney, Thomas
Burrell, Albert Hodgson, George A. Priestley, Gordon
Chambers, Norman Hood, Percy Russell, Charles
Christon, Victor Holliday, James Sedgwick, Cecil W.
Christon, Norman Holmes, William Sewell, J. Cecil A.
Close, John J. Hope, John J. Smith, John R.
Cree, Christopher Hutchinson, John J. B. Stevens, George
Davison, Ward Kirby, Luther D. Summerson, Herbert W.
Dowson, John G. Kirby, Bert Teasdale, Sydney
Ellerton, Joseph Kirby, Edwin O. Walker, W. Gordon B.
Gargett, George D. Kirkup, Ralph Walker, Bertram R.
Guy, Joseph Lamb, Albert Wallace, Robert
Hall, Herbert Lamb, William Wood, Edgar
Hammond, Moses Lambert, George Wooding, Joseph
----------------------------------------------------------
On second step
Anderson. T.A.S. Fuller. R.C.
1939 Close. F. Scott. J.W. 1945
Dowson. B. Walker. N
Duffy. C. Welch. J
NamesC112.01
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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