Memorial Details
Memorial
Roll of Honour 1914-18 Ritson, South Pontop Colliery
Reference
G54.02
Place
GREENCROFT
Original Location
Preston, Burnhope and South Pontop Collieries
Which war
1914-18
Memorial Description
Printed Roll of Honour, issued by the Colliery Co. to individuals, and covering Durham and Northumberland. It has 48 pages.
Each alternate page is decorated with a classical border pattern. Even numbered pages have at centre bottom a shield bearing the Company initials.
Pages 5-11, which lists the names of NCOs and men who died, have at bottom of alternate pages, a laurel wreath resting on crossed swords.
Page 12, which lists those who were taken Prisoner of War, has chains at the bottom.
Page 13 lists the Honours gained. The other odd numbered pages have at bottom a tank (left) a ship (centre) and a plane (right). Every page has at top a quotation from a poet or from a soldier.
Pages 15-30 name the men from Burnhope Colliery who served;
Pages 31-33 list the men who served from South Pontop Colliery;
Pages 34-48 list the men from Preston Colliery who served.
Each alternate page is decorated with a classical border pattern. Even numbered pages have at centre bottom a shield bearing the Company initials.
Pages 5-11, which lists the names of NCOs and men who died, have at bottom of alternate pages, a laurel wreath resting on crossed swords.
Page 12, which lists those who were taken Prisoner of War, has chains at the bottom.
Page 13 lists the Honours gained. The other odd numbered pages have at bottom a tank (left) a ship (centre) and a plane (right). Every page has at top a quotation from a poet or from a soldier.
Pages 15-30 name the men from Burnhope Colliery who served;
Pages 31-33 list the men who served from South Pontop Colliery;
Pages 34-48 list the men from Preston Colliery who served.
Materials used
Paper
Inscription
Front Page :
U.A. Ritson & Sons Ltd. / Roll of Honour / and / List of Directors, / Officials and Workmen who have / served in His Majesty's Forces / during the Great War / August / 1914 / November / 1918.
Page 2
This Roll of Honour contains the names of 905 Officers and / Men who joined the Navy and Army from the various / Offices and Collieries.
"Their names shall never die".
U.A. Ritson & Sons Ltd. / Roll of Honour / and / List of Directors, / Officials and Workmen who have / served in His Majesty's Forces / during the Great War / August / 1914 / November / 1918.
Page 2
This Roll of Honour contains the names of 905 Officers and / Men who joined the Navy and Army from the various / Offices and Collieries.
"Their names shall never die".
Names
Who commissioned
U.A. Ritson & Sons, Milburn House, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Printed by Tillotson's (Bolton) Ltd., Art Printers, Bolton & London.
Notes
1. A personalised copy of the 1914-18 Roll of Honour was sent to each of the bereaved families, together with a letter, signed by U.A. Ritson, Chairman, and N.S. Henderson, Secretary, which reads:
“We beg you to accept the enclosed Roll of Honour, and we trust it will serve to remind us in the years to come of what we have all gone through during the Great War.
We shall ever keep before us the memory of our 142 gallent dead, so that they may rest in peace in the assurance that they have not made the great sacrifice in vain, and we must never forget the gallantry and devotion of all who so loyally served their dear Country in any way during the strenuous and eventful years when our fate hung in the balance. This is a great tradition which has been created, and we hope that the spirit of good fellowship, mutual trust and confidence, which enabled us to defeat the wicked machinations of our Enemies, will inspire us one and all in the years to come.”
2. This is an extract from the book referring only to the names from South Pontop Colliery.
“We beg you to accept the enclosed Roll of Honour, and we trust it will serve to remind us in the years to come of what we have all gone through during the Great War.
We shall ever keep before us the memory of our 142 gallent dead, so that they may rest in peace in the assurance that they have not made the great sacrifice in vain, and we must never forget the gallantry and devotion of all who so loyally served their dear Country in any way during the strenuous and eventful years when our fate hung in the balance. This is a great tradition which has been created, and we hope that the spirit of good fellowship, mutual trust and confidence, which enabled us to defeat the wicked machinations of our Enemies, will inspire us one and all in the years to come.”
2. This is an extract from the book referring only to the names from South Pontop Colliery.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Tony Harding; John and Mavis Dixon; James Pasby
North Shields Public Library Local Studies had a copy.
Durham County Record Office has a copy Ref. D/X 619/2
Beamish Museum has a copy of the booklet sent to the family of J. W. Henderson of Burnhope Colliery, ref: 940.467.428
North Shields Public Library Local Studies had a copy.
Durham County Record Office has a copy Ref. D/X 619/2
Beamish Museum has a copy of the booklet sent to the family of J. W. Henderson of Burnhope Colliery, ref: 940.467.428
External web link
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
The late R.W. Gould; Tony Harding; John and Mavis Dixon; Dorothy Hall; North of England Open Air Museum, Beamish
Research In Progress
The names of the fallen have been researched see Every Name a Story entries
Roll of Honour 1914-18 Ritson, South Pontop Colliery (G54.02)
PRESTON Burnhope & Pontop Collieries.
U.A. Ritson and Sons Ltd.
Milburn House, Newcastle upon Tyne
Roll
of
Honour
South Pontop Collieries (Co. Durham)
-------------------------------------------------------------
U.A. Ritson & Sons Ltd.
Roll of Honour
and
List of Directors,
Officials and Workmen who have
served in His Majesty's Forces
during the Great War
August 4th
1914
November 11th
1918.
----------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
"A keen edged sword, a soldier’s heart
Is greater than a poet’s art."
Lance Corpl. Francis Ledwige, Inniskilling Fusiliers
This Roll of Honour contains the names of 905 Officers and
Men who joined the Navy and Army from the various
Offices and Collieries.
Of these, 142 made the supreme sacrifice for their Country.
"Their names shall never die".
-------------------------------------------------------
Page 5
"In that dear land where there are no more tears”
2nd Lieut. Hugh Reginald Preston
U.A. Ritson and Sons, Limited.
----------------------
Roll of Honour
List of the names of N.C.O.’s and Men who laid down their
lives in the service of their Country.
“Yours was the glorious price to pay,
Ours to record with grateful pride
That FREEDOM lives on earth today
BECAUSE YOU DIED”.
--------------------------------------------------
Page 8
“Blow out, you bugles, over the rich dead”
Sub.-Lieut. Rupert Brooke, R.N.V.R.
List of the names of N.C.O.’s and Men who laid down their
lives in the service of their Country.
Name; Occupation; Colliery; Regiment or Ship; Remarks
Farclough, R.; Putter; South Pontop; G.R.
Harrison, R.; Stone-teemer; -- do --; D.L.I.
Hurry, S.; Putter; -- do --; D.L.I.
Jackson, J.; Putter; -- do --; R.N.D.
Murray, T.; Hewer; -- do --; HMS Pegasius; Drowned
Pendleton, H.; Hewer; -- do --; N.F.
Stobbart, R.; Putter; -- do --; W.Y.R.; Died in Germany
Smiles, R.; Fireman; -- do --; D.L.I.
Short, H.; Hewer; -- do --; D.L.I.
Taylor, T.; Hewer; -- do --;N.F.
---------------------------------------------------
Page 12
“Greater than a poet’s fame
A little grave that has no name.
Lance-Corpl. Francis Ledwige
Men who were Prisoners of War.
Name; Occupation; Colliery; Regiment or Ship; Remarks
Green, J.; Hewer; South Pontop; R.E.
Price, W.; Hewer; -- do --; D.L.I.
Stobbart, R.; Putter; -- do --; W.Y.R.; Died in Germany
-----------------------------------------------
Page 13
“Forget us not, O Land for which we fell -
May it go well with England, still go well”
Lance-Corpl. Joseph Lee.
The Honours Gained were:-
C.M.G. 1
M.C.’s 2
D.C.M.’s 2
M.M.’s and Bars 2
M.M.’s 20
M.S.M.’s 2
Croix de Guerre 1
Russian order of St. Anne 1
----------------------------------------------
Page 31
“The soul of life is in the will to give
The best of life in willing sacrifice”
Sgt. J.W. Streets
Names and Particulars of men who have served in H.M.
Forces from SOUTH PONTOP COLLIERY
Name; Occupation; Regiment or ship; Service Abroad;
If wounded; Remarks
Applegarth H.; Stoneman; D.L.I.; Yes; --; Promoted to L/Cpl.
Applegarth, R.; Banksman; HMS Pegasius; Yes; --
Applegarth, G.; Putter; 7th Hussars; --; --
Andrews, S.; Stoneman; 13th Hussars; Yes; --
Appleby, T.; Putter; R.F.; Yes; --
Blake, J.R.; Stone-teemer; R.F.A.; Yes; --
Bell, J.O.; Hewer; N.F.; --; --
Cross, A.; Shifter; Ches. Regt.; Yes; --
Dodds, C.H.; Hewer; R.N.D.; Yes; --
Dodds, A.; Putter; K.O.Y.L.I.; Yes; Yes
Farclough, R.; Putter; G.R.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Grayley, J.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; --
Green, J.; Hewer; R.E.; Yes; --; Prisoner of War
Harrison, R.; Stone-teemer; D.L.I.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Hurry, S.; Putter; D.L.I.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Hall, R.; Hewer; W.Y.R.; Yes; Yes
---------------------------------------------
Page 32
“Youth only reaches greatness when he dies
In fullest prime that love and truth may live”
Sgt. J.W. Streets
SOUTH PONTOP COLLIERY
Name; Occupation; Regiment or Ship; Service Abroad;
If wounded; Remarks
Hanson, W.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; Yes
Hampton, W.; Putter; D.L.I.; --; --
Iceton, F.; Putter; N.F.; Yes; --
Jackson, J.; Putter; R.N.D.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Johnson, R.; Putter; Y. & L.R.; Yes; --
Johnson, A.; Hewer; Y.R.; --; --
Lewins, M.; Hewer; R.F.A.; --; --
Murray, J.; Hewer; HMS Pegasius; Yes; --; Drowned
Martin, J.; Hewer; N.F.; Yes; Yes; Promoted Corporal
Martin, F.; Stone-teemer; HMS Vernon; Yes; --
Neale, E.; Hewer; R.E.; --; --
Pendleton, H.; Hewer; N.F.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Pendleton, D.; Hewer; N.F.; Yes; --
Pendleton, R.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; --
Parker, J.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; --
Price, W.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; Yes; Prisoner of War
Pickvance, J.; Hewer; D.L.I.; --; --; Promoted Corporal
Pickvance, D.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; Yes; Promoted Lance-Corporal
Pinkerton, W.; Hewer; HMS Nigeria; Yes; --
Pinkerton, W.; Putter; N.F.; Yes; Yes
Pearson, R.M.; Hewer; G.G.; --; --
Pigford, J.H.; Putter; HMS Glory; Yes; --
----------------------------------------------------------
Page 33
“Lovers of Life, we pledge thee Liberty
And go to death calmly, triumphantly”
Sgt. J.W. Streets
SOUTH PONTOP COLLIERY
Name; Occupation; Regiment or Ship; Service Abroad;
If wounded; Remarks
Reather, H.; Hewer; 7th Hussars; --; --
Robinson, J.; Hewer; R.N.D.; Yes; Yes; Awarded Croix de Guerre
Reighall, P.; Putter; Welsh R.; Yes; Yes
Reighall, F.; Putter; 7th Hussars; --; --
Robson, W.; Putter; R.F.A.; Yes; --
Rogers, S.H.; Stoneman; R.F.; Yes; Yes
Ross, F.; Stone-teemer; HMS Superb; Yes; --
Stobbart, R.; Putter; W.Y.R.; Yes; --; Died whilst prisoner of War
Smiles, R.; Fireman; D.L.I.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Short, H.; Hewer; D.L.I.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Storey, T.J.; Putter; Tank C.; Yes; --
Smith, J.T.; Putter; Y.R.; --; --
Taylor, T.; Hewer; N.F.; Yes; --; Killed in action
Turner, A.; Hewer; N.F.; Yes; Yes
Todd, E.A.; Stone-teemer; Field Amb.; Yes; --
Watt, J.; Deputy; R.E.; Yes; --
Willas, A.; Putter; D.L.I.; Yes; --
Willas, H.; Putter; W.Y.R.; --; --
NamesG54.02
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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