Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Witton Dene
Reference
W123.01
Place
WITTON GILBERT
Original Location
Witton Dene, a small wooded valley south of the main street. Due to vandalism it was moved to its present location and rededicated 5th November 1978.
Present Location
Just off Sacriston Lane near the junction with Briar Lea.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 1st September 1922 by Lt.Col. J.R. Ritson, T.D., of Sniperley Hall. Dedicated by Rev. W.A. Elder, Curate of Witton Gilbert.
Unveiled in new position on 5th November 1978 by Capt. D. Brown and rededicated by Fr. Ian Hoskins.
Unveiled in new position on 5th November 1978 by Capt. D. Brown and rededicated by Fr. Ian Hoskins.
Memorial Description
Cross of St.Cuthbert type on tall tapering octagonal column, 15 feet high set on two shallow steps.
The names are incised into the faces of the base using sans serif capitals.
The dedication is in large letters on each face at the waist of the column in elongated sans serif lettering. The whole is 23 feet high set in a narrow paved area.
The names are incised into the faces of the base using sans serif capitals.
The dedication is in large letters on each face at the waist of the column in elongated sans serif lettering. The whole is 23 feet high set in a narrow paved area.
Materials used
Stainton stone
Inscription
Greater / love / hath / no man / than to / lay down / his life for / his friend.
Witton Gilbert War Memorial / Roll of Honour / of local heroes who died / for their King and Country / during the Great War / for righteousness
Lord grant them everlasting peace.
Witton Gilbert War Memorial / Roll of Honour / of local heroes who died / for their King and Country / during the Great War / for righteousness
Lord grant them everlasting peace.
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee
Cost
£400
How money was raised
Public subscription
Present condition
Letters recut and memorial cleaned 2000 by Abbey Stonecraft
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Architect J.G. Burrell of Durham
Notes
1. At the unveiling, one of the speakers talked of the problem of vandalism and ‘pilfering of flowers’.
2. The names are listed by date, and carry on through to 1919 and 1920 - presumably these people died of wounds later.
3. At its original site, the memorial had been near the old village. Since then, much of the old village had been demolished and new housing built further away.
4. Cost of removal and restoration in 1978 was estimated at £3,000.
5. In 1978 members of 105 Squadron of 72nd Regiment of Royal Engineers TAVR spent three weekends moving the memorial, with the aid of a stonemason, using crane, forklift truck and scaffolding to its new site. The memorial was in 28 sections, the biggest of which weighed 2,800 lbs. The soldiers were provided with meals by the Royal British Legion and slept at the home of a member. A local hotel helped out. The total cost to the Branch was £400 and this was soon raised by house-to-house collection plus £100 each from Witton Gilbert Parish Council and Durham District Council.
6. From Witton Gilbert, 222 men had joined up, of whom 43 were killed.
7. “From one who helped build a ‘rustic bridge’ in the Dene – the landscaping scheme was planned partly to give work for the unemployed. The Dene was to have a rose garden, pavilion and a caretaker’s house. What work was carried out took about three months but was soon destroyed by vandalism.” (Simon Raine)
2. The names are listed by date, and carry on through to 1919 and 1920 - presumably these people died of wounds later.
3. At its original site, the memorial had been near the old village. Since then, much of the old village had been demolished and new housing built further away.
4. Cost of removal and restoration in 1978 was estimated at £3,000.
5. In 1978 members of 105 Squadron of 72nd Regiment of Royal Engineers TAVR spent three weekends moving the memorial, with the aid of a stonemason, using crane, forklift truck and scaffolding to its new site. The memorial was in 28 sections, the biggest of which weighed 2,800 lbs. The soldiers were provided with meals by the Royal British Legion and slept at the home of a member. A local hotel helped out. The total cost to the Branch was £400 and this was soon raised by house-to-house collection plus £100 each from Witton Gilbert Parish Council and Durham District Council.
6. From Witton Gilbert, 222 men had joined up, of whom 43 were killed.
7. “From one who helped build a ‘rustic bridge’ in the Dene – the landscaping scheme was planned partly to give work for the unemployed. The Dene was to have a rose garden, pavilion and a caretaker’s house. What work was carried out took about three months but was soon destroyed by vandalism.” (Simon Raine)
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Errol Broomfield, Ron Carson, Simon Raine; old postcard post-marked 1924 of memorial in Witton Dene: Andrew Brooks; George Nairn
Durham County Advertiser 07/05/1920
Stanley News07/09/1922
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 08/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Durham Chronicle 08/09/1922 reports unveiling very fully; 10/11/1978 reports re-dedication
Illustrated Chronicle 04/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Consett Guardian 08/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Consett and Stanley Chronicle 08/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo 04/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Stanley and Chester-le-Street News 07/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Source of quotation:
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13
Durham County Advertiser 07/05/1920
Stanley News07/09/1922
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 08/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Durham Chronicle 08/09/1922 reports unveiling very fully; 10/11/1978 reports re-dedication
Illustrated Chronicle 04/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Consett Guardian 08/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Consett and Stanley Chronicle 08/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo 04/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Stanley and Chester-le-Street News 07/09/1922 reports unveiling.
Source of quotation:
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
Errol Broomfield; Ron Carson; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; Abbey Stonecraft; Dorothy Hall; Andrew Brooks; George Nairn
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Witton Dene (W123.01)
WITTON GILBERT, Village green.
NOT CHECKED AGAINST A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH
On octagonal base
Greater
love
hath
no man
than to
lay down
his life for
his friend.
----------------------------
On pedestal
Witton Gilbert War Memorial
Roll of Honour
of local heroes who died
for their King and Country
during the Great War
for righteousness
Lord grant them everlasting peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Left panel
1914
Pte. George Moody 8th D.L.I.
1915
Gilbert Hodgson Robson 8th D.L.I.
1916
“ Joseph Armstrong 2nd E.Y.
“ Joseph Beardmore 6th E.Y.
“ Cuthbert Carr 15th D.L.I.
“ Matthew Cumming 18th D.L.I.
“ Thomas Guy 27th N.F.
“ Charles Joseph Graham 5th D.L.I.
“ Thomas James Goodwin 2nd D.L.I.
“ Herbert Gill 13th D.L.I.
Lce.Cpl.George Jackson 2nd D.L.I.
Bomb. Richard Lisgo 8th E.Y.
Pte Roger Parkin 20th D.L.I.
“ Gibson Snaith 13th D.L.I.
Sergt. Robert Yule 19th D.L.I.
1917
Sergt. Arthur Ernest Clark 2nd D.L.I.
Pte. George Craggs 1st Worcester
Stoker Thomas Davison HMS Superb
Pte Arthur Edmundson 6th Bord
“ Ernest Hunter 9th W.Y.
“ Tom Allan Hardy 19th N.F.
“ Robert Knowlson 8th Y.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Right Panel
1917
Lce.Cpl. Owen William Maule 25th N.F.
Pte. Jacob Martin 1/4th K.O.Y.L.I.
“ Alexander Logan McDonald 8th E.Y.
Gunner Wiliam Thirkell Pratt 5th D.L.I.
Pte. John James Smeatham 6th Yorks.
“ Albert Moyes Walker 19th Y.
1918
“ Thomas Brown 3rd N.F.
Lieut. William Henry Brown 18th D.L.I.
Pte John Godfrey 15th D.L.I.
“ George Johnson 16th Ches.
Lce.Cpl.Thomas Gladstone Martindale 14th D.L.I.
Pte. Charles Metcalf 20th D.L.I.
Gunner Simpson Turnbull Parkin R.G.A.
Pte George Roe 2nd D.L.I.
“ John Roe A.S.C.
“ George Cuthbert Raine 18th D.L.I.
“ John Walton 15th D.L.I.
“ Frederick Wardman R.G.A.
1919
“ William Wise 8th D.L.I.
1920
“ Henry Overton 2nd Yorks.
“ Robert Wilkinson Rober Yul D.L.I.
The last two names are badly worn and the last name is virtually impossible to read.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rear Panel
1939 – 1945
Bramfitt E Kelsey G
Burdon J W Plank G W
Carroll J. Reynolds J.G.
Denton T.W. Swinton T.
Farnsworth R. Waterson J.W
NamesW123.01
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Parish Notes
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