Memorial Details
Memorial
Wall 1914-18 1939-45 Later conflicts Roadside
Reference
T54.02
Place
THORNLEY (Easington)
Map ref
NZ 366396
Original Location
Roadside, North side of High Street, and west of the “Colliery Inn”.
Present Location
Recently restored.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
c. Later conflicts
b. 1939-45
c. Later conflicts
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 23rd May 1959 by Mr. T.H. Holder, Secretary of the War Memorial Committee and dedicated by Rev. W.A. Lathaen, deputy assistant chaplain-general (TA) Northern Command and former Vicar at Thornley.
Memorial Description
Garden bounded on three side by hedges. The far end features a wall 7 feet high x 46 feet long. Inserted at the centre of the wall and part of it, approached by a path, is the monument bearing the dedication and names.
The monument is 7 feet high x 9 feet wide, with low raised centre top. There is a plain cross raised in half relief in the middle, with the quotation below.
The dedication is carried on a horizontal panel on either side of the head of the cross.
Below, on either side of the cross, is a sunken panel with raised border, each 4 feet high x 3 feet 3 inches wide. These bear the names in two columns on each.
Recently placed on the wall which surrounds this memorial are two very plain plaques – one on each side, each bearing further names from (a) 1914-18 and (b) 1939-45, N. Ireland and B.A.O.R. Two of these names were originally added to the frames of the main panels but have been removed from there and added to these panels.
The lettering of the dedication and quotation is in Roman capitals. The names are in sans serif capitals.
In 2018 an archway was added. This is made of tubular steel with a dove of peace at the top. On each side is a silhouette of a soldier leaning on his rifle with head bowed.
The monument is 7 feet high x 9 feet wide, with low raised centre top. There is a plain cross raised in half relief in the middle, with the quotation below.
The dedication is carried on a horizontal panel on either side of the head of the cross.
Below, on either side of the cross, is a sunken panel with raised border, each 4 feet high x 3 feet 3 inches wide. These bear the names in two columns on each.
Recently placed on the wall which surrounds this memorial are two very plain plaques – one on each side, each bearing further names from (a) 1914-18 and (b) 1939-45, N. Ireland and B.A.O.R. Two of these names were originally added to the frames of the main panels but have been removed from there and added to these panels.
The lettering of the dedication and quotation is in Roman capitals. The names are in sans serif capitals.
In 2018 an archway was added. This is made of tubular steel with a dove of peace at the top. On each side is a silhouette of a soldier leaning on his rifle with head bowed.
Materials used
Dunhouse stone from Staindrop.
Tubular steel arch.
Inscription
To the glory of God / and in memory of / the employees and / residents of Thornley / who made the supreme / sacrifice in the wars.
Greater love / hath no man / than this / that a man / lay down his life / for his friends.
Greater love / hath no man / than this / that a man / lay down his life / for his friends.
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee
Cost
£1,000
How money was raised
Public subscription and fund raising.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Mr. Dennis Dunlop of Durham.
Archway made by David Ogilvy
Notes
1. This memorial replaced the first world war memorial which was lost when the Miners' Welfare Institute was destroyed by fire in 1944.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Simon Raine; C. Sanders; James Pasby; Dorothy Hall; Beamish Museum 1959 photographs from Durham Advertiser
The Response, the occasional newsletter of the Northumberland and Durham Branch of the Western Front Association No.1 New series January 1995 carries a report by Jim Winter on 2nd Lieut. John Scott Youll, V.C.
The Employees and Residents of Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill. Their contribution in the Great War 1914-1918 Fred Bromilow and Owen Rowland. Wheatley Hill History Club, 2006.
The Employees and Residents of Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill. Their contribution in the Second World War 1939-1945. Fred Bromilow, Owen Rowland. Tom Tunney Jnr. Wheatley Hill History Club, 2008
Source of quotation:
Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13
The Response, the occasional newsletter of the Northumberland and Durham Branch of the Western Front Association No.1 New series January 1995 carries a report by Jim Winter on 2nd Lieut. John Scott Youll, V.C.
The Employees and Residents of Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill. Their contribution in the Great War 1914-1918 Fred Bromilow and Owen Rowland. Wheatley Hill History Club, 2006.
The Employees and Residents of Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill. Their contribution in the Second World War 1939-1945. Fred Bromilow, Owen Rowland. Tom Tunney Jnr. Wheatley Hill History Club, 2008
Source of quotation:
Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13
External web link
Research acknowledgements
C. Sanders; the late Jim Winter; James Pasby; Margaret Hedley; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
Wheatley Hill History Club have researched the names on this memorial. See book details above.
Wall 1914-18 1939-45 Later conflicts Roadside (T54.02)
THORNLEY Roadside
To the glory of God and in memory of
the employees and residents of Thornley
who made the supreme sacrifice in the wars.
------------------------------------------------------
Centre left hand panel
1914-1918
Pte. J. Allen Pte. G. Graham
“ T. Allison “ G. Gray
“ J. Amos L/Cpl. J. Gray
Sgt. W. Atkinson Pte. J.J. Greener
L/Cpl. F. Aunger Bdr. H. Griffiths
Pte. E. Bentham Pte. D. Hagon
“ J. Best “ J. Hall
“ H. Blaney “ T. Hall
Sgt. W. Blenkinsopp D.C.M. “ P. Hamilton
Pte. J. Bond “ J. Harris
“ G. Bradley “ S. Hastings
“ J. Brain “ J. Henry D.C.M.
“ S. Bullock “ H. Hepple
Sgt. E. Bushby “ G. Heslop
Cpl. J. Calvert “ H. Heslop
Pte. T.J. Carey Gnr. T. Heslop
“ R. Carter Pte. G. Hesp
“ C.A. Chaytor “ J. Higgins
“ J. Clough Gnr. J.W. Hill
“ J.H. Coldwell Pte. R. Holden
“ J. Connelly “ D. Holmes
“ E. Cook “ W. Hunter
Cpl. M. Cook “ J. Husband
Pte. P. Cook “ C. Hutchinson
“ J.G. Cowie “ W. Jamieson
“ T.W. Curry “ J. Jones D.L.I.
“ J.W. Davis “ J. Jones
“ J. Dodsworth “ R. Jordison
“ A.W. Dove Cpl. W. Kears
“ J. Dunlop Pte. J. Kelly
“ M. Durkin “ J. Lamb
Cpl. J.P. Durkin Sgt. J.H. Lamb
Pte. J. Ellimore Pte. A. Lambert
Sto. R. Elliot “ J. Lawson
Pte. C. Ellis “ W. Luke
“ C. Ellis D.L.I. L/Cpl. D. Lumsden
“ W. Evans Gnr. P. McCoy
“ M. Fairhurst Pte. A. McGregor
“ C. Gott “ J. McLoughlin
“ R. Gott Cpl. F. Milburn
------------------------------------------------------
Centre right hand panel
1914-1918
L/Cpl. A. Millington Pte. J. Stone
Pte. J.R. Mills “ E. Sullivan
“ W. Moore “ A. Sutherland
“ F. Newby “ J.G. Taylor
Sgt. B. Orchard “ J.R. Taylor
Pte. H. Ord “ J. Thompson
“ R. Park L/Cpl. R. Thompson
“ T. Paxton Cpl. W.E. Thompson
“ G. Peel Gnr. H. Thornton
L/Cpl. J.W. Potts “ G.H. Todd
Pte. R. Potts Sto. F. Veitch
“ W. Poulson L/Cpl. R. Walker
“ C. Quinn Pte. R. Walker
“ L. Quinn “ H. White
“ J. Riley Cpl. W.F. Wick
“ J. Ritchie Gnr. L. Wilkinson
“ G. Rivers Pte. H. Williamson
“ J. Rowe “ W. Wood
“ J. Sample Sgt. W. Woodward
“ P. Savage Cpl. J.G. Wright D.C.M.
“ J. Sedgwick Pte. S. Wright
Cpl. E. Smith “ C. Wylie
Pte. R. Soulsby “ J. Wylie
“ H. Spence “ J.J. Wylie
“ E. Spink “ M. Youll
“ W. Starford Sec.Lt. J.S. Youll V.C.
“ J.W. Stephenson Pte. T. Ball
1939-1945
Pte. J. Atkinson Tel. T. Lee
“ I. Bates Sgt. C.R. Long
Capt. J. Bonar LAC. J. McEnaney
Pte. J. Burrell Sgt. J. Parker
L/Cpl. E. Gair Std. J.J. Parsons
Pte. W.H. Gott L/Bdr. W. Peacock
“ T.T. Greener Gnr. J. Piercey
“ T. Hall L/Cpl. D.L. Renwick
Sgt. R. Heads Tpr. G.E. Robinson
“ W. Hoole Sgt. T. Scott
Pte. J.J. Humble Sgr. G. Tarn
Sgt. H. Kell A.B. A. Thomas
------------------------------------------------------
Plaque on left
Addenda Panel
1914-18
Pte. J. Anderson Pte. J.E. Iveson
“ T. Brady “ I. Jackson
L/C J. Burnett “ G.W. Lawerence
Pte. W. Clark “ D. McDonald
“ J.H. Dowson “ W. McGlade
“ J.W. Foster “ J.T. Price
“ R. Harbron “ T. Wetherell
“ I. Holroyd
“ J. Hutchinson
------------------------------------------------------
Plaque on right
Addenda Panel
1939-45
Sgt. J. Avery Spr. R. Monk B.A.O.R.
Gdsn. W. Hutchinson Pte. J. Gaskell Northern Ireland
Pte. J. Madrell
Cpl. F.S. Plant M.M.
A.S. P. Robinson
R.M. J. Moore
------------------------------------------------------
At centre below cross
Greater love
hath no man
than this
that a man
lay down his life
for his friends.
NamesT54.02
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Parish Notes
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