Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside
Reference
W120.02
Place
WILLINGTON
Map ref
NZ 204348
Original Location
On south side of A690 from Crook, at the entrance to Willington Park.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 8th November 1924 by Earl of Durham, Lord Lieutenant of Durham; dedicated by Rev. J. Duncan, O.B.E., Rector of Willington.
Memorial Description
Cross of St.Cuthbert style on tall tapering column, total height 22 feet. Large rectangular base with two steps, 6 feet x 6 feet 8 inches. The dedication is on the front face. The names from Willington for both wars are on the right and back faces, those for Oakenshaw and Page Bank are on the left face. The lettering is raised and blackened, using Roman capitals for the dedication and sans serif capitals for the names.
Materials used
Creetown granite
Inscription
a. To the glory of God / and in sacred memory of the gallant men / of / Willington, Oakenshaw and Page Bank / who sacrificed their lives in the Great War / 1914-1918
b. And the World War 1939-1945.
“They died that we might live”.
b. And the World War 1939-1945.
“They died that we might live”.
Names
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee, Chairman Mr. R.L. Weeks.
How money was raised
Public Subscription; RBL “Mile of pennies” scheme raised £25.10s;
Present condition
See Note 1 below.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Designed and made by Wm. Allison & Son, Bishop Auckland.
Ownership and maintenance
The memorial was accepted by Cllr. W. Hateley at the dedication “to be kept for the inhabitants for all time”. Cllr. Hateley was Chairman of the Willington Urban District Council.
Notes
1. In 1922 ”over 3,000 people attended an open air meeting in Albion Square Willington. The Willington Silver Prize Band were present, and the Willington Church Lads’ Brigade buglers sounded the ‘Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’. Messrs. Strakers and Love, owners of the local collieries, erected a temporary wooden cross upon which wreaths were laid by Willington British Legion and C.L.B. and poppies by relatives of men who fell in the war”.
2. A public meeting called in October 1919 to discuss the commemoration of the Armistice and the raising of a war memorial had only 20 people attending.
3. "The sculptor Messrs. William Allison & Son, Bishop Auckland, in designing the cross head have followed as near as possible the original cross of St. Cuthbert, the patron saint of Durham, which is now deposited in the library at Durham."
4. Mr. David Hodgson, who unveiled the 1939-45 memorial, a Willington disabled ex-serviceman, had been wounded in that war. He lost his right arm, eye and part of his right leg while crossing the Rhine. His father had been killed in 1914-18.
5. The area around the memorial has been landscaped into an open brick pavement, with stainless steel seat. There is also a flat hemisphere supported by two ?marble blocks. The hemisphere has at top a pierced design of laurel leaves with the word “Peace” beneath in several languages, viz:- on the front 'Friede' 'Peace' 'Paix'; on the rear: 'Mir', 'Peace', 'Shalom.
6. Major landscaping in 2005 was carried out by Groundwork, West Durham, with the war memorial as the focus for restoration.
2. A public meeting called in October 1919 to discuss the commemoration of the Armistice and the raising of a war memorial had only 20 people attending.
3. "The sculptor Messrs. William Allison & Son, Bishop Auckland, in designing the cross head have followed as near as possible the original cross of St. Cuthbert, the patron saint of Durham, which is now deposited in the library at Durham."
4. Mr. David Hodgson, who unveiled the 1939-45 memorial, a Willington disabled ex-serviceman, had been wounded in that war. He lost his right arm, eye and part of his right leg while crossing the Rhine. His father had been killed in 1914-18.
5. The area around the memorial has been landscaped into an open brick pavement, with stainless steel seat. There is also a flat hemisphere supported by two ?marble blocks. The hemisphere has at top a pierced design of laurel leaves with the word “Peace” beneath in several languages, viz:- on the front 'Friede' 'Peace' 'Paix'; on the rear: 'Mir', 'Peace', 'Shalom.
6. Major landscaping in 2005 was carried out by Groundwork, West Durham, with the war memorial as the focus for restoration.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Simon Raine, C. Sanders; old post card Frith WTN 3: Tony Harding; photo of unveiling: Andrew Brooks
Durham County Advertiser 04/11/1924
Illustrated Chronicle 10/11/1924 reports unveiling with photos.
Durham Chronicle 15/11/1924 reports unveiling of 1914-18 memorial; 19/08/1949 reports unveiling of 1939-45 memorial.
Northern Echo 13/11/1922 reports erection of temporary wooden cross in Note 4 above; 08/04/1924 reports that the tender of
Messrs. Wm. Allison and Sons, sculptors, has been accepted; 10/11/1924 page 5 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 04/10/1924 reports proposed unveiling; 15/11/1924 reports unveiling.
Sunderland Echo 10/11/1924 page 5 reports unveiling.
Auckland and County Chronicle 30/10/1919 reports poor attendance at a meeting; 11/01/1923 reports fund raising; 13/11/1924 reports unveiling; 12/02/1925 reports successful fund raising with very little left outstanding
"Willington in old Picture Postcards"; Olive Linge. Dewey classification 942.864. ISBN 902886083 5/CIP carries a picture of the unveiling and a reference to Sgt Thomas Venn 6DLI, who was killed in action.
Source of quotation
“They died that we might live” "Hail! and Farewell" John Oxenham 1915
Durham County Advertiser 04/11/1924
Illustrated Chronicle 10/11/1924 reports unveiling with photos.
Durham Chronicle 15/11/1924 reports unveiling of 1914-18 memorial; 19/08/1949 reports unveiling of 1939-45 memorial.
Northern Echo 13/11/1922 reports erection of temporary wooden cross in Note 4 above; 08/04/1924 reports that the tender of
Messrs. Wm. Allison and Sons, sculptors, has been accepted; 10/11/1924 page 5 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 04/10/1924 reports proposed unveiling; 15/11/1924 reports unveiling.
Sunderland Echo 10/11/1924 page 5 reports unveiling.
Auckland and County Chronicle 30/10/1919 reports poor attendance at a meeting; 11/01/1923 reports fund raising; 13/11/1924 reports unveiling; 12/02/1925 reports successful fund raising with very little left outstanding
"Willington in old Picture Postcards"; Olive Linge. Dewey classification 942.864. ISBN 902886083 5/CIP carries a picture of the unveiling and a reference to Sgt Thomas Venn 6DLI, who was killed in action.
Source of quotation
“They died that we might live” "Hail! and Farewell" John Oxenham 1915
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; C. Sanders; Tony Harding; John and Mavis Dixon; Dorothy Hall; Andrew Brooks; Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance; Mr. C. Glendenning
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (W120.02)
WILLINGTON Roadside.
On pedestal
To the glory of God
and in sacred memory of the gallant men
of
Willington, Oakenshaw and Page Bank
who sacrificed their lives in the Great War
1914-1918
And the World War 1939-1945
“They died that we might live”.
---------------------------------------------
First side (1914-18)
WILLINGTON
Adamson M. Douglas J.W. Lucas E.P.
Adamson T.W. Elliott P. Marsden M.
Alder E.A. Emmerson M. Minns R.A.
Allan G. Ferens F. Mitchell R.
Allan J. Ford C. Firth L. McGrath P.
Arkley J.H. Ford T.W. McNiff J.
Barton J. Foster G.W. Naisbitt W.T.
Bell A.W. Freeman J. Nicholson T.M.
Bell C. Galley F. Parker J.S.
Bell H.D. Gatiss T.W. Paylor J.
Bell J.H. Gill D. Plumpton W.H.
Bennett R. Glendenning J. Purvis F.
Bird J. Gott J. Richards H.W.
Blackett C. Graham J. Robinson J.
Blenkinsopp G. Hird H.N. Robinson J.B.
Booth G. Hird R. Robson A.J.
Bousfield T. Hodgson D. Rutherford G.
Brown G.W. Hope R.A. Sayer E.
Brown J. Hopkinson W. Sayer H.
Brown J.H. Hopper M. Small S.W.
Buckley A. Jackson R. Smithson F.
Charlton J. Jackson H. Snowball J.R.
Clarke L. Jopling J.R. Stonehouse A.E.
Cook T. Kennedy J.W. Stout W.
Cook W. Kidd T.W. Tobin P.J.
Cooper G.W. Lamb J. Todd G.W.
Craggs J.H. Larnach A.C. Towers H.
Cross J. Laws J. Turner W.
Dale T.H. Laws R. Venn T.
Daley F. Lawson J. Walker F.
Daley J. Letby A.H. Walker W.A.E.
Davison J.W. Lister A.E. Waller G.
Defty W. Little H. Ward T.W.
Devine S. Littlewood H. Watkins J.S.
Dinsley J. Longstaff J.W. Weir S.R.
Dodds J. Lowes E. Young W.
---------------------------------------------
Second side
WILLINGTON
(1914-18)
Burns F. Fenwick H. Martin J
Dodds R.L. Foreman T.W. Walker F.
------
(1939-45)
Adamson A.S. Dent L. Pallister F.
Adamson C.R. Dinsley J.W. Perkins W.
Alderson H.A. Fletcher J.G. Plews W.S.
Aspinall E.W. French M. Richards F.
Banister N. Glasper J. Robinson C.S.
Barron T. Glendinning J Robinson F.
Blackburn J.W. Hardy F. Rutter J
Blackett H. Harland A. Simpson J.W.
Blackett R.J. Harle N. Simpson P.N
Bond J. Hutchinson W. Slack J.
Brown E. Jackson E. WAAF Stephenson A.
Burton E.R. Jackson S. Stonehouse J.
Carolan T. Jopling J.R. Suffield S
Casey J. Larnach C. Watson H.H.
Christon J. Lee D. Watson L.M. WAAF
Clark G.W. Letby R.E. Weir S.R.
Cockerill A. Nicholls W. Young O.L.
Cottrell P.C. Palliser J.
Carlton J
---------------------------------------------
Third side
(1914-18)
OAKENSHAW
Armstrong W.G. Elsbury E. Middlemass J.
Barker A. Ferguson J.L. Murphy J.P.
Barrass N.S. Gilpin J. Nattrass S.
Brooks J. Grundy R. Payne G.
Brown D. Henderson R. Robinson G.
Carpenter S.J. Hewitt J. Sides E.
Castle J.J. Kyle G. Stephenson R.
Collin W. Longstaff E.W. Wilson R.
Coulson R. Marr J.W. Snowdon F.
------
(1939-45)
Howe R.L.G. Ramshaw J.G. Smith V.
Johnson J. Rowlandson S.R. Snowdon F.
Lomax H. Tones W.
Lowes E. Wearmouth A.
PAGE BANK
(1914-18)
Bowes G. Gould R. Ramsay H.M.
Brentley G.W. Hall J.T. Stringer H.
Evans E. King W.E. Thompson G.
------
(1939-45)
Fletcher J.G. Johnson F.
NamesW120.02
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Parish Notes
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