Notes: 1. One of the original suggestions was the “restoration of Neville’s Cross, erected in commemoration of the battle in which King Bruce of Scotland was captured by the English in 1346, and the provision of a playing ground for children”. A War Memorials Committee was set up to take the matter forward.
2. Douglas McMurtrie has researched the history of the memorial and states:-
The monument at Neville’s Cross is one of the simpler erections. The first contemporary newspaper to mention it was the Durham Advertiser of 10th December 1920 which showed a photograph and recorded that it was 8 feet high, and that a subscription of over £100 was raised towards the cost. The Durham Chronicle of Friday 7th October 1921, features the unveiling of the parish memorial.
The article is entitled “NEVILLE’S CROSS HEROES.”
In the presence of some hundreds of relatives, friends and parishioners, the memorial cross erected to the 18 brave souls who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday afternoon” (2nd October 1921). The memorial is in the form of a Celtic cross, in grey, rustic granite, with stone face, and stands in the grounds of St John’s Church” (author’s note: I have not yet traced the designer of the cross, nor the source of the granite. If anyone has this information, let me know). The inscription reads “To the glory of God and in honour to the brave men killed in the Great War 1914 – 1919.”
The following names are engraved: Charles Y. Adamson, George W. Appleton, Joseph Bowman, M.M., Charles H. Broome, Richard W. Brown, Edward Carter, John Coatham, William Culbert, James C. Elliott, Robert H. Elliott, Wilfred Elliott, Joseph D. Mobbs, Joseph Morgan, Frederick Phillips, John Rowland, John W. Scarth, John H. Shepherd, and Robert Todd.
The cross has been erected by public subscription at a cost of £110, and Sunday’s deeply impressive ceremony was participated in by representatives of practically all major denominations. Those present included Alderman S. Galbraith M.J., Mr and Mrs J. Dawson, the Rev R. Watson, R.D. (rector), the Rev C. J. Thurlow, M.A., (vicar of St Stephen’s, South Shields, and a former curate-in-charge of St. John’s), the Rev J.G.M. Collier (curate in charge), the Rev H. Painter Boase (superintendent Wesleyan minister), the Rev W.A.H. Gall (Presbyterian minister), Mr and Mrs W.B. Kerrich Walker, Mr G.H. Leatham (chairman of the Memorial Scheme Committee), Mr J.W. Ditchburn (hon. Treasurer), Mr Fred Heron (hon. Secretary), and Mrs Heron, Mr W.T. Brown, Mr R.S. Metcalfe, Mr R. Rowland, Mr F. Webster, Mr H.S. Harrison, Mr S. Veitch, Mr J.J. McGregor, Mr and Mrs Ashcroft, Mr W.S. King, Mr A.V. Yockney, and Mr and Mrs J.T. Elliott. The Rev J.S. Nightingale (superintendent of the Durham P.M. Circuit) was unable to attend. The service opened with the singing of the hymn Through all the changing scenes of life.
The speeches were reported too. First, by Mr G.H. Leatham, acknowledging the debt to the fallen, and the duty of those who remained to prove that they were worthy of the great sacrifice. Then Mrs A.J. Dawson removed the union flag and unveiled the cross, and lilies placed at its foot. The dedication ceremony was performed by Rev C.J. Thurlow. He remarked that almost all the fallen were well known to him during his years of ministry at Neville’s Cross. Prayer was offered by Rev R. Watson and the congregation sang the hymn O God, our help in ages past. This was followed by a short address from Rev. Painter Boase who also read out the names of the deceased. The congregation then sang the hymn Abide with me followed by buglers sounding the Last Post and The Reveille, and concluding with the Benediction.
Note: The unveiler, Mrs Dawson was the wife of the County’s Director of Education. It was unusual at the time for a woman to perform this honour.
