Memorial

Plaque 5th D.L.I. 1914-18 St. Thomas

Stockton on Tees

Memorial Name: Memorial 5th D.L.I. 1914-18 St. Thomas (S138.20)

NEWMP Ref No.: S138.20

Parish: Stockton on Tees

Original Location:

St. Thomas’ Church (Stockton Parish Church), High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, TS18 1SP. NZ 44557 19254
Below stained glass window.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 16th August 1925 by Major-General F.A. Dudgeon C.B., general officer commanding 50th (Northumbrian) Division;
dedicated by the Bishop of Durham.

Materials Used:

Oak

Cost:

Estimated at £250

How Money was Raised:

Men of 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.

Present Condition: Good but dusty

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Inscription:

The Faithful Durhams

To the glory of God
and in proud memory of the
46 Officers, 144 Warrant Officers and
Non-Commissioned Officers and 729 men
of the Fifth Battalion
The Durham Light Infantry
who died in the
Great War 1914-1919

Left hand panel:
Battle Honours
Aisne 1914-18
Armentieres 1914
Ypres 1915 17 18
Garvenstafel
St Julien
Frezenberg
Bellewaard
Hooge 1915
Loos
Somme 1916 18
Albert 1916 18
Bazentin
Delville Wood
Pozieres
Guillemont
Flers-Courcelette
Morval
Le Transloy
Ancre Heights
Arras 1917 18
Scarpe 1917
Arleux
Hill 70
Messines 1917
Pilckem
Langemarck 1917
Menin Road
Polygon wood
Broodseinde
Passchendaele

Right hand panel:
Battle Honours
Cambrai 1917 18
St Quentin
Rosieres
Lys
Estaires
Hazebrouck
Bailleul
Kemmel
Schepenberg
Marne 1918
Tardengis
Bapaume 1915
Hindenburg line
Havrincourt
Epehy
Canal du Nord
St Quentin Canal
Beaurevoir
Courtrai
Selle
Sambre
France and Flanders 1914-18
Piave
Vittorio Veneto
Italy 1917-18
Macedonia 1916-18
Egypt 1915-16
NW Frontier India
1915 1916-17
Archangel 1918-19

Memorial Description:

Floor plaque, total height 86 inches x 74 inches wide (2.18m x 1.88m). (The Faculty gives 78 inches x 72 inches 1.98m x 1.83m).

It has an elaborate curved centre top beneath which are the words “The Faithful Durhams” and the regimental badge raised in half relief with foliage.

Below this is the dedication incised in a sunken panel.

A sloping shelf holds the Roll of Honour Book.

There are two shelves for vases.

Two outer panels carry the battle honours incised in capital letters.

Names:

None.

See Roll of Honour S138.35.

Notes:

1. This is the Battalion Church. There are some very old banners on display: “Two tattered flags, dating back from 1804, reminiscent of the Loyal Stockton Volunteers in the Napoleonic Wars”.

2. The 1/5th Battalion is the only DLI battalion in the regiment to have laid up their colours in their own Parish Church. All other DLI battalions of the Regiment placed theirs in Durham Cathedral.

3. An impressive parade was held on the Stockton football ground, by the 1/5th Battalion, before marching to the unveiling of the War Memorial in the church.

4. When visited in 2024, the memorial was hidden behind a screen, [The original Roll of Honour book that was supposed to be on display on the shelf on this memorial, has been stolen].

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; James Pasby

Auckland and County Chronicle
20/08/1925 reports unveiling.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail
17/08/1925 reports unveiling.
(Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
22/08/1925 reports unveiling.

Stockton and Teesside Herald
14/02/1920

Diocese of Durham
Faculty number 2104, issued 24/01/1925

Tyne and Wear Archives
Ralph Hedley plans Acc.142 DT/RH/20/179