Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Thomas’ Churchyard

Eighton Banks

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Thomas' Churchyard (E50.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: E50.01

Parish: Eighton Banks

Original Location:

St. Thomas’ Churchyard, Eighton Banks.

North west corner, on west side of Galloping Green Road.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled 30th April 1921 by Dr. Parkin of Newcastle;
dedicated by Rev. C.E. Little, Rural Dean.

Materials Used:

Freestone

Cost:

Estimated at £186 17s.

How Money was Raised:

John Bowes & Partners, owners of Springwell and Vale Collieries, contributed 50 guineas;
Pelaw Main Colliery gave 10 guineas;

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

D. Morrison.

Inscription:

East side:
To the glory of God and in memory of
the men of this Parish who gave their lives in the
Great War for Honour and Freedom.

Greater love hath no man than this that a man
lay down his life for his friends.

West side:
In grateful remembrance of
the men of this Parish who gave their lives
in the World War 1939-1945.
“We will remember them”.

Memorial Description:

Cross of Celtic wheeled type, total height 10 feet (3m).

It has an elongated wreath carved on each face with the words “Pro Patria”.

The shaft stands on a high pedestal with rock-faced quoins, and this rests on a three-stepped base.

The whole is set within low iron railings on a concrete pad.

The names are inscribed and gilded on four polished granite plaques.

The last three names on the north side of the cross were added later, with the final name being carved into the sandstone.

There is a separate general plaque for 1939-45.

Lettering is in sans serif capitals.

Names:

a. 77 names, ranks and regiments.
b. None
See transcript.

Notes:

1. This may have been preceded by a temporary wood cross (Mr. H. Atkinson).

2. The Durham County Archives reference is to the parish copy of the Diocesan faculty granted 06/11/1920. This also allowed for the words “Pro Patria” to be included.

3. The plaque was expected to cost £134 and the Cross £186 17s 0d. At the time of submission a total of £327 had been raised by public subscription.

4. In 1914-18, 500 men went from the village, of whom 74 fell.

5. Two Committees – Eighton Banks War Memorial Committee and the Wrekenton and Eighton Banks Memorial and Welcome Home Fund were amalgamated in June 1920.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Errol Broomfield; Ron Carson; Dorothy Hall

Illustrated Chronicle
02/05/1921 carries photos of the unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
21/06/1920 reports donation of 10 guineas from Pelaw Main Colliery and the amalgamation of two committees

Newcastle Daily Journal
13/05/1920 reports donation of 50 guineas by John Bowes and Co.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
07/05/1921 reports unveiling.

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Ref: EP/EB 40 Faculties for the erection of a War Memorial marble tablet, stone cross etc. and the replacement of the organ, 1920 – 1961 (6 files)
Ref: EP/EB 41 Newspaper cutting from The Illustrated Chronicle, showing views of the dedication and unveiling of war memorials at Eighton Banks Parish Church, 1921
Ref: EP/EB 45 Programme for the dedication ceremony of the war memorial, cross and panel, 1948 (1 booklet)

Sources of quotations:
“Greater love hath no man . . .” : St. John 15 v 13;
“We will remember them”: “For the Fallen”, Lawrence Binyon

Sources Link: Illustrated Chronicle 05 02 Mon -1921

Additional Research Documents

E50.01 Order of Service 1948

Download
Research Acknowledgements:

Miss R.B. Harbottle;
J. Brown;
Mr. H. Atkinson;
C. Sanders;
Errol Broomfield;
Ron Carson;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale

Research In Progress:

Ann Norman and John Taylor have researched the names at Eighton Banks

Contact: jktay373@yahoo.co.uk

Provide Details

If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.

Names Documents:

Front face

  Capt. D.P. Lindsay MB; CH.B. R.A.M.C.   

  Pte.    W. Moore             “       

  Capt.   W. Raine  M.C.       K.L.        

  Pte.    T. Littlefair        “    

  2/Lt    J. Greenwell         N.F.       

  Sgt.    W.R. Knott           “       

  Cpl.    F. Aisbett           “          

  L/Cpl.  H. Smith             “           

  Pte.    S. Anderson          “  

  “       J.W. Boggon          “          

  “       R.  Coleman          “          

  “       J.  Cook             “          

  “       J.  Connelly         “          

  “       F.  Harvey           “          

  “       T.  Hutchinson       “          

  “       R.  Holmes           “          

  “       W.  Holmes           “          

  “       J.  Ivers            “          

  “       J.E. Jennings        “      

Note: The name Aisbett should be Aisbitt.    

——————————

At base

  1914 1918

  To the glory of God and in Memory of

  The men of this parish who gave their lives in the

  Great War for Honour and Freedom.

 

—————————————————–

Second face

  Pte.    M. Mulcairn          N.F.

  “       G. Pegg              “

  “       R. Pegg              “

  “       P. Quinn             “

  “       A. Ridley            “

  “       J. Stott             “

  Pte     T.C. Thompson        “     

  “       A. Watson.           “        

  “       H. Blacklock         D.L.I.   

  “       J. Davison           “        

  “       J. Moore             “        

  “       H. McPherson         “        

  “       J.F. McMillan        “        

  “       G. Proudlock         “       

  “       G. Ritson            “        

  “       R. Rutter            “        

  “       A. Stephenson        “        

  “       R. Scott             “        

  “       T. Wilkinson         “    

—————————————————–

Third face

  Pte     E. Smith             W.Y.

  “       R. Aspinall          R.M.L.I.

  “       E.M. Bates           “

  “       N. Coleman           “

  “       R. Clarkson          “

  “       C. Pegg              “

  Capt.   G. Knott             M.S.

  PO      J. Elliot            R.N.D.

  “       T. Greenwood         “

  AB      J. Birkett           “

  “       M. Lowes             “

  “       T. Neville           “

  “       A. Tracey            “

  “       R. Wilde             “

  “       J.H. Wood            “

  “       J.G. Waggott         “  

  “       R.E. Watson          “

  Pte.    R. Airey

  “       A. Airey             D.L.I.

  “       w. Dixon             R.A.S.C.

—————————————————–

Fourth face

  Sapper  L. Anderson          R.E.       

  “       W. Brown             “        

  Pte.    A.H. Barron          W.R.

  “       J.G. Atkinson        R.I.F.             

  “       W.D.B. Hunter        “      

  “       T. McGuire           “  

  “       R. Wardle            “        

  “       J. Dryden            L.R.       

  Bomb.   E. Stott             R.F.A.     

  Gunner  G. Chrisp            “         

  “       T. Dobson            “        

  L/Cpl   V. Chisholm          K.O.S.B.

  Pte.    H. Codling           M.G.C.

  “       H. Liddle            “

  “       J. Joicey            L.N.L.

  “       I. Lowery            Yorks

  “       J.W. Moore           C.E.F.  

  “       J.W. Musgrove        K.O.R.L.

  “       C. Smith             R.W.

—————————————————–

At base

  In Grateful Memory of

  The Men Of This Parish Who Gave Their Lives

  In The World War Of 1939-1945.

  We will remember them.    

NamesE50.01

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