Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Village Green

Village green, in front of the town hall in centre of village

a  1914-18
b 1939-45

a  Unveiled 15th April 1922 by Col. John Clay, C.B.E. of Newcastle upon Tyne;
dedicated by Rev. H.G.H. Shaddick, O.B.E., C.F. (Army Chaplain)

b Unveiled 21st September 1947

Granite

£500

Public subscription; Ladies Working Party.

Beattie and Co., Carlisle

a.
For
God and Country
(names)
In
proud and loving memory
of the men of this parish
who fell in the
Great War

“They serve him night and day in his temple”.

b.
In
proud and loving memory of
the men of this parish
who fell in
the 2nd Great War
1939-1945
(Names)

c.
In
grateful remembrance
of the seven airmen
who lost their lives
at Green Laws
on 7th May 1943.
(Names)

“Comrades all,
at country’s call”.

Statue of soldier in D.L.I. field service uniform with head bowed over reversed rifle.

He stands on a square pillar with two deep pedestals resting on two steps.

The whole sits in a small gravelled area with iron railings.

The names for 1914-18 are on the front of the main pedestal, with the dedication and quotation on the front of the two deeper pedestals.  The dates are raised in a sunken panel below.

The names of those from 1939-45 are on the right.

The names of 7 airmen who died at Green Lane are on the left.

All lettering is in sans serif lettering throughout.

1.   The seven airmen killed in the plane crash were the crew of Wellington III bomber BK441 which took off from North Luffenham for a night cross country training flight, during which they encountered cloud.  It is thought possible that whilst they were trying to establish their exact position, they crashed into Greenlaws Hush.  All members of the crew were killed and are buried in various cemeteries across the UK.  Controversy had been created when it was suggested that their names be added to the memorial, since it was felt by some that only local names be on the war memorial.

2.   In 1920 “”On behalf of the St. John Chapel War Memorial Fund, a field day and sports were held at St. John’s Chapel on Saturday.  About £30 was raised.”

3   Colonel John Clay had been Commanding Officer of the 50th (Northumbrian) Casualty Clearing Station.

St.John’s Chapel
Historic England Listing

Photos: Gillian Gibson-Stephenson, Simon Raine; photo of Unveiling Service programme John and Mavis Dixon

Auckland and County Chronicle
10/06/1920 reports fund raising in Note 2 above;
20/04/1922

Darlington and Stockton Times
22/04/1922 reports unveiling.

Illustrated Chronicle
15/04/1922 reports proposed unveiling tomorrow with photo.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
17/4/1922 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
22/04/1922

Northern Echo
14/11/1994 and 01/05/1995 report addition of names of seven Lancaster crew

Weardale Museum
Folder containing information on local war memorials.

Britain’s Aviation Memorials and Mementoes (1992) David J. Smith, Patrick Stephens Ltd.; ISBN 1 85260 395 X

Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses Vol.7 Operational Training Flights 1940-1947  W.R. Chorley, 2002. Midland Publishing  ISBN 1 85780 132 6

Source of quotations:
“They serve him day and night . . .” Revelation 7 v 15;
“Comrades all, at country’s call” (Not ascertained)

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale
Gillian Gibson-Stephenson;
Durham County Council;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
George Brown;
Ken Heatherington;
Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk