Memorial

Cross 1914-18 Bede College grounds

Durham City

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 Bede College grounds (D47.017)

NEWMP Ref No.: D47.017

Parish: Durham City

Original Location:

Bede College.

In the grounds to the south of the college.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Erected 25th May 1922;
Unveiled 28th May (Bede Day) 1922 by Lieut.Col. J.R. Ritson, Officer Commanding 8th Batt. D.L.I.;
dedicated by Dr. Hensley Henson, Bishop of Durham.

Materials Used:

Stone

Cost:

£1,000

Inscription:

In proud and loving memory of these sons of Bede
who in the Great War
where so many of their brothers served and suffered,
gave their lives for their King and Country.
Lest we forget Lest we forget.
Gravenstafel.
Bede Company 8th Durham Light Infantry.
April 25 1915.

Memorial Description:

Cross ‘of ancient style’ on a tapering shaft, 14 feet (4.3m) high, set on a square pedestal.

The lettering is in sunken panels on the stone pedestal.

The names are listed in three columns in order of year of entry to the College.

Lettering is in Roman capitals throughout.

The whole stands in a paved area with seats, approached by a steps.

Names:

86 surnames and initials plus year in which they entered the college.
See transcript

Notes:

1. The Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge took place 22nd-23rd April 1915.

2. The weathering has meant that some of the lettering on the west face is totally unreadable. It needed finger tracing and comparison with the Roll of Honour to confirm the names. This was done by Enid Heron.

3. It is possible that the last two names on the west face were added later as they are out of line with the rest.

4. From the College, 92 former students served of whom 19 were killed.

5. There was a design of a semi-circular pillared structure in the grounds, designed by Messrs. Kellett and Clayton.

6. The name of Sydney Casewell Cureton is on both D47.126 and D47.127 but is not on this memorial. He was a gardener at the College. The Committee decided then he did not qualify to be on the memorial. There were moves in 2014 to rectify this omission.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine; John and Mavis Dixon; Enid Heron; old postcards: George Nairn

Auckland & County Chronicle
04/03/1920 carries the picture of the proposed memorial described in Note 5 above.

Durham Chronicle
02/06/1922 reports unveiling

Durham County Advertiser
02/06/1922

Illustrated Chronicle
29/05/1922 reports unveiling with photos.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
31/05/1919 reports proposed memorial;
29/05/1922 reports unveiling with photo

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
03/06/1922 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
30/05/1919 reports proposed memorial.

Stanley and Chester le Street News
01/07/1922 reports unveiling.

The Durham Bugle Summer 2014 has an article about S.C. Cureton

Memory Lane – Durham City, Michael F. Richardson. ISBN 1 85893 193 1 carries an old photo.

Source of quotation:
“Lest we forget” Recessional Rudyard Kipling.

Sources Link: Northern Echo 05 30 Fri -1919

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Clayport Library Staff;
John and Mavis Dixon;
George Nairn;
James Pasby;
Enid Heron;
Dorothy Hall;
David Butler