Plaque Graham 1916 Sparty Lea Primitive Methodist

Sparty Lea Primitive Methodist Church (now Methodist). (closed)

On south wall.

High Forest Community Centre, Sinderhope, HEXHAM, NE47 9SJ

NE Gable end adjacent to the car park.

1914-18

1. Unveiled 22nd November 1919 by Wm. U. Bright.
Dedicated by Rev. W. Armstrong.

2. It was officially unveiled in its new location at High Forest Community Centre in a simple ceremony on Sunday 2 November 2025

Marble

Erected by the inhabitants of Sinderhope District.

+ In loving memory +
of
Pte. Gilbert Graham,
25th Batt. N.F.,
fell in action 1st July 1916
at Bapaune north east of Albert,
aged 20 years.

“Death divides, but memory clings”

Erected by the inhabitants of Sinderhope District.

Plaque, set on a pattress 25 inches high x 31 inches wide (635mm high x 790mm).

On the main plaque, there is a border pattern of leaves and stems, culminating in a circle containing a cross at each of the four corners.

Lettering is a mixture of plain and ornamented Roman capitals.

1. The place where Pte. Graham died should be “Bapaume”.

2. The press report of the unveiling states
“We knew him as a boy, taught him the truths of the Word in the Sunday School. He met with them in worship in that chapel. He was intimately associated with the chapel. In his diary there is an entry dated May 20th 1914, ‘Have cut the first sod for the foundations of Sparty Lea Chapel’ and he was also one who was engaged to put the finishing touches to the interior of the building on its completion. He enlisted in January 1916, and crossed over to France in June of that year, and on that memorable 1st July, died in the service of his country”.

3. See his  Every Name A Story entry

Photos: Philip Thirkell; Dorothy Handcock; Rev Michael Holland

Hexham Courant
29/11/1919 reports unveiling.

Source of quotation
“Death divides but memory clings” Not ascertained.

P. Thirkell;
J. Brown;
Dorothy Handcock;
Mrs. P. Mbarek, niece to Private Graham;
Rev Michael Holland

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