Memorial Details
Memorial
Statue 1914-18 1939-1945 Roadside
Reference
T57.01
Place
TOW LAW
Map ref
NZ 120386
Original Location
Road junction. “A prominent position at the top of High Street”.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-1945
b. 1939-1945
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 10th September 1921 by Lieut.Col. Nicholson. Dedicated by Rev. T.H. Espin.
Memorial Description
Statue of soldier standing with rifle at the ready. He is on a tall square pedestal with columns at each corner.
Below the statue are sunken panels which bear the dates on two sides in raised letters and the words “For Country” on the front and back.
The main pedestal stands on two steps. These in turn rest on two more steps with a low iron railing round. The names are carried in a single column on the sides of the plinth. The lettering is incised and leaded using sans serif capitals.
Below the statue are sunken panels which bear the dates on two sides in raised letters and the words “For Country” on the front and back.
The main pedestal stands on two steps. These in turn rest on two more steps with a low iron railing round. The names are carried in a single column on the sides of the plinth. The lettering is incised and leaded using sans serif capitals.
Materials used
Italian Marble
Inscription
a. For Country / For Country / 1914 / 1919 /
Erected / By the inhabitants of / Tow Law, Thornley, / Sunniside, Hedley Hope, / East Hedley Hope / and Satley. / To the sacred memory / of those gallant men / who, at the call of king / and country, left all that / was dear to them, and after / enduring hardships and / facing danger in the Great / European War 1914-1919 / passed among their / comrades by the path of / duty and sacrifice / giving their own lives / that we might live in / freedom. /
Greater love hath no man than this, that / a man lay down his life for his friends
Erected / By the inhabitants of / Tow Law, Thornley, / Sunniside, Hedley Hope, / East Hedley Hope / and Satley. / To the sacred memory / of those gallant men / who, at the call of king / and country, left all that / was dear to them, and after / enduring hardships and / facing danger in the Great / European War 1914-1919 / passed among their / comrades by the path of / duty and sacrifice / giving their own lives / that we might live in / freedom. /
Greater love hath no man than this, that / a man lay down his life for his friends
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee
Cost
£600.
Present condition
Vandalised – see Note 2 below.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Mr. Thomas Westgarth, Campbell Street, Tow Law.
Ownership and maintenance
The memorial was formally handed over to the Urban District Council at the unveiling ceremony.
Notes
1. A special address was given by Rev. Humphreys, Vicar of Thornley, who lost three sons in the War.
2. The original statue had a bayonet fixed to the rifle. This was broken, probably vandalised, c.early 1960s. The broken remnant was removed and the rifle reground. The bayonet is visible in early photos. Repair work has been done (2009) when the bayonet was replaced.
3. The proposal for a war memorial was first mooted by Cllr. Atkinson 11/01/1918.
4. The memorial featured on the front of the local calendar for 2007.
5. Mr. W.H. Charlton, agent for Messrs. Samuelson’s, was asked to speak at the unveiling. His son, Lieut.Col. B.S. Charlton, had been killed and his name was on the memorial.
6. One of those named went down on the Lusitania.
2. The original statue had a bayonet fixed to the rifle. This was broken, probably vandalised, c.early 1960s. The broken remnant was removed and the rifle reground. The bayonet is visible in early photos. Repair work has been done (2009) when the bayonet was replaced.
3. The proposal for a war memorial was first mooted by Cllr. Atkinson 11/01/1918.
4. The memorial featured on the front of the local calendar for 2007.
5. Mr. W.H. Charlton, agent for Messrs. Samuelson’s, was asked to speak at the unveiling. His son, Lieut.Col. B.S. Charlton, had been killed and his name was on the memorial.
6. One of those named went down on the Lusitania.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Ron Carson; Simon Raine; David Charlesworth; Dorothy Hall; John Dixon; Lonely Tower: Old postcards: Tony Harding; George Nairn; John Grainger; D. Charlesworth; Photo of dedication by A.O. Humphreys, Tow Law LHS
Durham County Advertiser 16/09/1921 carries brief report of unveiling.
Illustrated Chronicle 22/09/1923 carries photos of “highest memorial in the district”
Stanley News 15/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Auckland and County Chronicle 15/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Darlington & Stockton Times (North) 17/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Durham County Council ref 505/3/6/8
In Durham County Archives booklet (Ref. A12/11 page 40) of photos of Tow Law history showing procession going through Dan’s Castle on its way to the unveiling.
Minute Books of the Tow Law Board and Urban District Council (Ref. UD/TL 5 and 6).
Weardale Museum Folder containing information on local war memorials.
Memoirs of Tow LawMr Newrick Grant; produced by Tow Law Local History Group.
Tow Law Town Council Minutes2009 page 7 169/09 Clerk's Report that the bayonet had been fixed onto the statue on 5th Nov. 2009 prior to the Remembrance Day Service.
Sources of quotations
“Those men who, at call of King and Country . . .” Certificate sent to all bereaved families under the George V cipher and coat of arms.
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13.
Durham County Advertiser 16/09/1921 carries brief report of unveiling.
Illustrated Chronicle 22/09/1923 carries photos of “highest memorial in the district”
Stanley News 15/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Auckland and County Chronicle 15/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Darlington & Stockton Times (North) 17/09/1921 reports unveiling.
Durham County Council ref 505/3/6/8
In Durham County Archives booklet (Ref. A12/11 page 40) of photos of Tow Law history showing procession going through Dan’s Castle on its way to the unveiling.
Minute Books of the Tow Law Board and Urban District Council (Ref. UD/TL 5 and 6).
Weardale Museum Folder containing information on local war memorials.
Memoirs of Tow LawMr Newrick Grant; produced by Tow Law Local History Group.
Tow Law Town Council Minutes2009 page 7 169/09 Clerk's Report that the bayonet had been fixed onto the statue on 5th Nov. 2009 prior to the Remembrance Day Service.
Sources of quotations
“Those men who, at call of King and Country . . .” Certificate sent to all bereaved families under the George V cipher and coat of arms.
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13.
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; Ron Carson; Errol Broomfield; Durham County Council; John and Mavis Dixon; Reg. Hornsby; Tony Harding; Alan Vickers; George Nairn; David Charlesworth; Dorothy Hall; Tow Law Local History Society; Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Statue 1914-18 1939-1945 Roadside (T57.01)
TOW LAW Road junction
FOR COUNTRY
ERECTED
By the inhabitants of
Tow Law, Thornley,
Sunniside, Hedley Hope,
East Hedley Hope
and Satley.
To the sacred memory
of those gallant men
who, at the call of king
and country, left all that
was dear to them, and after
enduring hardships and
facing danger in the Great
European War 1914-1919,
passed from among their
comrades by the path of
duty and self sacrifice,
giving their own lives
that we might live in
freedom
----------------------------------------
On front base of pedestal
Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friends
----------------------------------------
Left side
1919
D.L.I.
Pte Agar J.R.
Pte Agar N.R.
Pte Armstrong D.
Sgt Armstrong W.
Pte Bainbridge J.T.
Pte Barker W.
Pte Bradley J.J.
Pte Brooks H.
Pte Brunton J.R.
Pte Charlton W.
Pte Collingwood T.W.
Pte Collingwood J.
Pte Cuthill J.
Pte Fitzsimmons W.
Pte Foster J.H.
Pte Graham W.
Pte Graham W.
Pte Guy J.G.
Pte Hanlon F.
Pte Harle J.
Cpl Henderson W.
Pte Hewitson J.T.
Pte Hildreth C.
Pte Holliday G.L.
Pte Hutchinson J.A.
Cpl Hutchinson W.
Pte Jones J.
Pte Marley W.P.
Pte McCormick J.
Pte McMahon R.
Pte Peckett J.W.
Pte Pooley, T.
Pte Proud R.A.
Pte Robinson O.
Pte Simpson A.R.
----------------------------------------
Left top step
Tel. Moses F.V. Pte Small D.
Cpl Nash H. Flt/Lieut Trevor G.
LA/C Portrey L. Gnr Turner M.
Bdr. Rees J.R. Lieut Vickers T.H.
Ck Rees L. Pte Vitty T.
Plt/Off Robson A. L/Bdr Wall D.
----------------------------------------
Left base
Sgt Flt/Eng Robson J. P.O Wheatley R.M.
Stwd Rudkin L. Maj Williamson W.H.
----------------------------------------
Right hand side
YORKS
Pte Cave T.W.
Lt.Col Charlton B.H.
Pte Charlton S.
Pte Collinson T.G.
Pte Claughton J.
Pte Crowe G.
Pte Hall G.
Pte Hall C.H.
Pte Hutchinson T.E.
Pte Lee E.
Pte Marley M.
Pte Moralee T.H.
Pte Nicholson M.
Pte Pears J.G.
Pte Proud R.
Pte Richardson G.
Pte Walker J.W.
R.F.A.
Gnr Coates G.R.
Gnr Maddison R.
Gnr Robinson J.W.
Bdr Robson H.S.
Sgt Smith G.P.
Gnr Todd M.R.
Dr. Winter J.
Gnr Vasey H.
Pte Learoyd G. Tank C.
AB Lewis W.C. R.N.D.
Sap McDougall A. R.E.
Rfl Watson H. K.R.R.
Pte Welsh G.S. D of W.
Pte Nattrass T. D.L.I.
Pte Harle J. D.L.I.
----------------------------------------
Right top step
1939-1945
LACW Pattinson J.E.
P.O. Thirwell G.
Pte Allan C.D. LAC Dixon J
L/Cpl Bates N. Pte Fawcett J.W.
Sgt/Plt Bell C. Pte Gill F.
AC2 Boal W. LA/C Gowland T.
----------------------------------------
Right Base
Sgt/Obs Brydon J.L. Ldg/SMM Graham J.A.W.
Pte Carrigan J.L. Pte Green J.G.
----------------------------------------
Rear
FOR COUNTRY 1914
D.L.I.
Pte Stearman J.
Pte Stephenson R.
Pte Tarn J.
Pte Thompson R.
Pte Vitty J.
Pte Ward T.
Pte Waugh G.H.
Pte Whitfield M.
Pte Wilson P.
Pte Dowson C.
N.F.
Pte Burrows D.
Pte Corr W.
Pte Dawson R.
Pte Evans J.
Pte Harle J.
Pte Hobson R.
CSM Hutchinson A.W.
L/Cpl Lowson T.
Cpl Milburn A.
Pte McAninly J.J.
Pte Moore T.
Pte Nelson A.
Pte Robinson R.B.
Cpl Robinson R.
Pte Rowell-Brown J.W.
Pte Bradwell F. Bdr Regt.
Pte Boal W. Lincoln.
Pte Crowe J.E. M.G.C.
Pte Hutton F.B. Gren.Gds.
Pte Hunter R. Nth.Staffs.
Capt. Humphreys N.F. Tank.C.
Lieut. Humphreys J.T.G. R.A.N.S.
Humphreys H.St.G.
Lusitanian
----------------------------------------
Rear top step
Mne Hildreth H. Capt Kirby T.
Pte Hildreth J.A. Pte. McKenzie G.W.
L/Cpl Hildreth T.E. Cpl (MM) McMillon D.
Flt/Sgt Hobson H. Pte Mawson A.
LA/Mec. Holden F. Pte Milner A.J.
Cfn Humphries R. Pte Milner W.
----------------------------------------
Rear Base
Maj Johnston R.Q.F. Pte Moffitt T.
Tpr Lawson W.R. Pte Moody J.
NamesT57.01
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