Memorial

Calvary 1914-18 St. Godric R.C. Churchyard

Durham City

Memorial Name: Calvary 1914-18 St. Godric R.C. Churchyard (D47.042)

NEWMP Ref No.: D47.042

Parish: Durham City

Original Location:

Our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric’s Roman Catholic Church, Copper Chare.

In the churchyard.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 13th May 1923 by Lt. Col. J.R. Ritson;
dedicated by Rev. Canon Thornton.

Materials Used:

Portland stone

Who Commissioned:

War Memorial Committee

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription

Inscription:

This
monument was
erected by the
members of
St. Godric’s parish
to the
memory of those
brave men from
this parish
who laid down
their lives in
defence of their
country in the
Great War
1914-1918
R.I.P.

Memorial Description:

Calvary, total height 14 feet (4.3m) with gabled top.

It stands on a base with five faces at the front and a flat face at the rear.

The whole stands on top of four square steps.

The dedication is carried on the front face of the pentagonal base.

On the pedestal is a half relief carving of a soldier with arms reversed on one side and a sailor with arms reversed on the other.

The names are in a single column on the two outer panels.

On the rear is a St. Cuthbert Cross.

Lettering is incised using sans serif capitals.

Names:

40 names, ranks and regiments.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The site is a fine vantage point over the city but very steep and narrow. The crowd compressed into it at the unveiling must have been very uncomfortable in a “drenching downpour”.

2. Rev. Canon Thornton made the first suggestion for a memorial in November 1915, and called a parish meeting in November 1917 which asked each family in the parish to give £1 over the next year.

3. The surname of Private John Melia should be Malia. His family wish to make this correction.

4. The lettering, which was badly weathering, was re-carved (?2002)

5. In June 2013 this church Our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric’s joined with St. Joseph’s Gilesgate, St. Bede’s Newton Hall and was incorporated into The Parish of the Durham Martyrs.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; Simon Raine; James Pasby

Durham Chronicle
18/05/1923 reports unveiling.

Durham County Advertiser
18/05/1923 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
19/05/1923 briefly reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
14/05/1923 gives brief report of unveiling.

Sources Link: Northern Echo 05 14 Mon -1923

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
C. Sanders;
Durham County Council

Research In Progress:

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

Provide Details

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Names Documents:

DURHAM  St. Godric’s Roman Catholic Churchyard

 

  This

  monument was

  erected by the

  members of

  St. Godric’s parish

  to the

  memory of those

  brave men from

  this parish

  who laid down

  their lives in

  defence of their

  country in the

  Great War

  1914-1918.

  R.I.P.

  —————————————-

Left side                             

  Pte.     G. Ainsley       R.A.S.C.     

  Pte.     J. Barratt       D.L.I .      

  Pte.     A.G. Clement     R. Fus.       

  Stoker   J. Conlon        R.N.         

  C.Q.M.S. S. Cunningham    D.L.I.       

  Pte.     J.J. Curry       N. Fus.      

  Pte.     P. Dowd          Yorks. Regt.

  L/Cpl.   P. Fairley       D.L.I.      

  Sgt.     M. Finan         N. Fus.      

  Pte.     E. Foley         “   “       

  Pte.     P. Gaffney       “   “       

  Pte.     H. Gilroy        “   “       

  Pte.     Matt. Hanley     Y – L.      

  Pte.     M. Hanley        N. Fus.      

  Pte.     J. Hockney       Man. Regt.    

  Pte.     W. Hockney       K.O.R.L. Regt.

  Trooper  J. Kelly         D. GDS.    

  Pte.     A. Kerwin        Yorks-Lan      

  Trooper  J.F. Kinsley     R.I. Lan.    

  Pte.     H. Kirk          D.L.I.       

  

Right side

  Pte.     T. Loftus        D.L.I.

  Cpl.     J.R. Madden      R.F.A.

  Pte.     T. McCann        D.L.I.

  Pte.     E. McDermott     “   “

  Sgt.     A. McNamara      Y – R

  Pte.     J. Melia         D.L.I.

  Sgt.     Jos. Melia       “   “

  Pte.     J.E. Moran       N. Fus.

  Pte.     J. Morgan        D.L.I.

  L/Cpl.   M. Norwood      N. Fus.

  Sgt.     T. Robey        N. Fus.

  Sgt.     J.J. Rowan      N. Fus.

  Lt.      W. Ruxton       R.F.A.

  Pte.     W. Sheffield    R.A.S.A

  Gnr.     T. Smith        R.F.A

  2/Lt.    A. Tumulty      R.D. Fus.

  Abl.     E. Warrant      R.N.

  Pte.     J. Welsh        Yorks. Regt.

  Pte.     A. Wilson       D.L.I

  Pte.     R. Wilson       D.L.I

NamesD47.42      

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