Memorial
Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside
Craghead
Memorial Name: Statue 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (C120.01)
NEWMP Ref No.: C120.01
Parish: Craghead
On south side of Edward Street, near its junction with Middle Road and Front Street.
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
The gates to the memorial ground were unlocked by Mr. T.V. Greener, agent for Craghead Collieries.
Statue unveiled November 11th 1922 by R.W. Cooper, Managing Director of the Colliery Company.
Dedicated by Dr. N. Quirk, Bishop of Jarrow
Statue of white marble; steps, pedestal and column of pink granite.
£1,300
The site plus £400 were donated by the Colliery Company.
Colliery workmen raised £921 9s 11d.
Public subscription.
J.W. Reed, Newcastle
a.
This memorial was erected
in honoured memory of those
who made the supreme
sacrifice in the Great War.
Bravely they fought, and well.
They died that we might live.
Let those who come after see to it
that they are not forgotten.
Statue of Peace on top of a column on pedestal on granite steps, total height 22 feet (6.7m), total weight 22 tons.
At the top of the pedestal below the statue on each face is a wreath inside which are the intertwined figures of the dates “1914” and “1918” in Art Nouveau style. There are swags carved between the wreaths.
The names from 1914-18 on incised into the lower part of the pedestal, in a single column on two faces and in a double column on the other two.
The names from 1939-45 are incised into the top part of the pedestal, in a single column on each face.
Three steps lead up to the statue, at the foot of which is a gate of upright bars on which are fixed in wrought iron
(top) a crown
(2) crossed swords
(3) the badge of the R.A.F.
(4) a laurel wreath.
At the bottom there is a large ivy-leaved wrought iron plant which climbs up the gate on either side of the devices above.
The whole is in a site 10 feet square (3m) laid out with pathways and three steps.
a. 109 names, ranks and regiments.
b. 53 names, ranks and regiments.
See transcript.
1. One description of the figure on the top is “a winged figure of Freedom, standing on a blobe (?globe) with broken chains hanging from the wrists, emblematical of the freedom of the earth”.
2. The Cs and Gs are hard to distinguish in the Great War names
Photos: Ron Carson; Simon Raine, Reg Hornsby; C. Sanders; Dorothy Hall; old postcard: Tony Harding; George Nairn
Blaydon Courier
18/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Consett and Stanley Chronicle
17/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Consett Guardian
17/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Durham Chronicle
17/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Durham County Advertiser
10/11/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
17/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Illustrated Chronicle
13/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
11/11/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
18/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Northern Echo
08/11/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
13/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Stanley and Chester le Street News
09/11/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
16/11/1922 reports unveiling.
Shields Daily News
03/11/1922;
16/11/1922
Durham County Council
Ref: 505/1/11/33
The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Ref: EP/Cra 4/25 (i) Order of service for unveiling and dedication of Craghead War Memorial, 11 November 1922 (1 booklet, printed)
Sources of quotations
“Bravely they fought and well” Not ascertained, but reminiscent of ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
“They died that we might live”
Hail! and Farewell! John Oxenham
“Let those who come after . . . “ Quoted from a certificate signed by King George V and sent to each bereaved family.
Additional Research Documents
Craghead Dedication 1922
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
C. Sanders;
Ron Carson;
Dorothy Hall;
Durham County Council;
Reg. Hornsby;
Pauline Priano
All the WW1 names on this memorial have been researched.
See Every Name a Story entries.
If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.
CRAGHEAD Edward Street,
Front Upper pedestal
1939-1945
F/L. N. Ainsworth R.A.F.
L/C. H. Blayney D.W. Rgt.
O/S. G. Blakey R.N.
O/S. S. Blakey R.N.
L/S. D.W. Carr R.N.
Pte. G. Copeland S.L.Inf.
L/A. A. Cruddas R.A.F.
Gds. P. Curry G.Gds.
Tpr. W. Cuthbertson D.Gds
C.S.M. J. Darwood D.L.I.
Cpl. F. Draper D.L.I.
Pte. E. Gill D.L.I.
Pte. R.W. Cummings H.L.I.
————————————-
Front lower pedestal (1914-18)
This monument was erected
who made the supreme
Pte. T. Atkinson D.L.I.
Sig. J.W. Bainbridge R.F.A.
Pte. T.R. Bainbridge K.O.Y.L.I.
“ T. Bamborough D.L.I.
“ C. Barnes “
“ J. Bell N.F.
Sgt. W. Blackburn Dorsets
Pte. F. Bowman E. Yorks
A.B. A. Boyes R.N.D.
Pte. J. Bristo K.O.S.B.
Cpl. R. Brown N.F.
Pte. T. Calvert R.A.S.C.
“ T. Carr N.F.
A.B. W. Carr R.N.D.
Pte A. Carter R.Inn.F.
“ A. Coates N.F.
“ A. Corbett N.F. Pte. E. Binney R.A.M.C.
“ R. Craggs D.L.I.
————————————-
Front base
Let those who come after see to it
——————————————————————–
Right side upper pedestal
1939-45
G/S R. Gardner R.N.
Gds. F. Grix S.Gds.
Cpl. S. Grix D.L.I.
Pte. J. Heal D.L.I.
Cpl. V. Heavisides R.We.R.
O/S T. Hudspith R.N.
Cpl. J. Hunter E.Yks.
Pte. J. Ingram D.L.I.
W/O J.W. Jones R.A.F.
Bdr. T. Jones R.A.
Gnr. L. Keers R.A.
O/S D. Laverick R.N.
————————————-
Right lower pedestal (1914-18)
in honoured memory of those
sacrifice in the Great War.
Pte. J. Craigs 7th Yorks
“ J.T. Curtis 1st Norfolks
“ S. Darwood N.F.
“ J. Davison R.Inn.F.
L/C. R. Davidson S.Gds.
Pte. C.E. Dazley N.F.
“ J.J. Dickinson D.L.I.
“ T. Dixon R.Inn.F.
“ T. Dyson N.F.
“ J. Ellis W.Yorks
A.B. L. Ellison R.N.D.
Cpl. R. Ellison R.N.D.
Pte. T. Emery C.B.
Driv. J. Flowers R.F.A.
Pte. D. Freeman R.Inn.F.
Lieut. H. Greener D.L.I.
Cpl. J.W. Greener N.F.
Pte. W. Grundy N.F.
————————————-
Front base
that their names are not forgotten.
——————————————————————–
Rear upper pedestal
1939-45
Sgt. H. Laybourne R.A.F.
Pte. W. Liddle D.L.I.
Gnr. T.W. Martin RA
Sgt. D. Maughan R.A.F.
Dvr. M. McMahon R.A.S.C.
Pte. C. Meakin W Regt.
Pte. N.G. Meakin Midds.Rgt.
Fus. J. Metcalfe R. Fus
Sgt. D. Mortimer R.A.F.
O/S T.T. Mortimer R.N.
C.S.M. G. Morton D.L.I.
Sgt. J.W. Morton D.L.I.
Fus. M. Oakes R.N.F.
————————————-
Rear Lower pedestal (1914-18)
Pte. A. Hands K.O.Y.L.I. Sgt. V. Lathan K.O.S.B.
Pte. J. Harold N.F. Pte. W. Lewis D.L.I.
Pte. C. Haw N.F. Pte. J. Lockie R.Inn.F.
Pte. G. Henderson R.Inn.F. Pte. M. Lonsdale D.L.I.
A.B. J.E. Hetherington R.N.D. “ R. Lowery N.F.
“ H. Horne “ Lieut. T. Lowery D.L.I.
Pte. G. Holmes D.L.I. Sgt. H. Mansell “
“ J. Horsley R.S. Pte. W. Martin “
“ W. Hunt H.L.I. “ H. Mather R.N.D.
“ R.W. Jacques S.W.B. “ T. J Maughan L.C.
“ W. Johnson N.F. “ H. McDonald D.L.I.
“ A. Kennedy “ “ J. McGuire Bdr. Regt.
“ A. Lancaster “ “ R. McGuire N.F.
L/C. J. Lancaster “ “ T. Mortimer “
“ C. Lancaster N.H. A.B. J. Mountain R.N.
Pte. G.E. Larmouth R.Inn.F. Pte. J. Newman C.R.
“ R. Larmouth D.L.I. A.B. G. Nichol R.N.D.
Tpr. L. Latham Sc.Horse. “ E. Ormston “
Pte. W. Davidson N.F.
————————————-
Rear base (1914-18)
Bravely they fought and well.
——————————————————————–
Left side Upper pedestal
1939-45
L/A. L. O’Grady R.A.F.
Pte. R. Patterson R.A.O.C.
Dvr. R. Peart R.A.S.C.
L/S. W.G. Pounder R.N.
O/S. A. Scott R.N.
Tpr. J.L. Shields R.A.C.
L/C. J. Simpson D.L.I.
Dvr. J.T. Snaith R.A.S.C.
O/S. H. Stout R.N.
Dvr. R. Thompson R.A.S.C.
Gnr. T.D. Tomlinson R.A.
Sgt. L. Whittle R.A.F.
Cpl. J. Wharton R.A.F.
————————————-
Left side lower pedestal (1914-18)
Pte. T. Owens D.L.I. Pte. J. Snow R.N.D.
“ A. Parker “ “ T. Staff N.F.
“ S. Pearson “ “ W. Staples G.Gds.
Sgt. P. Price “ “ R. Stewart W.Rg.
A.B. J. Pounder R.N.D. “ J. Talbot N.F.
“ C. Rackham “ “ T. Taylor R.A.M.C.
Pte. T. Ramshaw N.F. “ W. Tearney D.L.I.
“ W. Robinson “ “ E. Thirlaway N.F.
“ W. Rutherford “ “ J. Turner D.L.I.
“ T. Salkeld “ “ J. Wallace C.B.
“ G. Savage “ “ T. Walton N.F.
A.B. J. Scaife R.N.D. “ J.W. Ward D.L.I.
Pte. J. Scott D.L.I. “ W. Ward “
“ N. Silk “ “ B. Watson “
“ E. Simpson “ “ J. Watson R.N.D.
L/C. J. Simpson N.F. Capt. F.A. Weeks D.L.I.
Pte. T. Smith S.Gds. Pte. J. Wheatman 7 Yorks
“ W. Smith N.F. “ N. White D.L.I.
Pte. J. Wilkinson R.Inn.F.
————————–
Left side base.
They died that we might live.
NamesC120.01
War Memorial Indexes
County Durham Index
Newcastle Index
Northumberland Index
Over The Tees Index
This is a work in progress. Interested in helping, contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
