Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Michael’s Churchyard

Hawthorn

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Michael's Churchyard (H119.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: H119.01

Parish: Hawthorn

Original Location:

Church of St. Michael and All Angels.

Eastern corner of churchyard.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled October 1922 by J.S.G. Pemberton of Belmont Hall.
Dedicated by the Bishop of Durham.

Materials Used:

Granite

Inscription:

a.
To
the glory
of
God
and in
honour
of
brave men
who fell in
the Great
War
1914-1919

b.
1939-1945

Memorial Description:

Cross of wheeled type.

It stands on a pediment of rusticated stone with one step, total height approx. 8 feet (2.4m), in front of which are three flower containers.

The whole set in a small stone-kerbed area, 72 inches x 63 inches (183cms x 160cms).

The dedication is on the smoothed front face of the cross, the names are on the smoothed front face of the pedestal.

The dates from 1939-45 are in a cartouche at the base of the shaft.

All lettering is in sans serif capitals.

Names:

a. 8 full names.
b. 1 full name

See transcript.

Notes:

1. Faculty number 1077, issued 07/07/1922 for the erection of a cross in the churchyard reads as follows: “Rustic cross 8’ high, enclosure 6’ by 5’3” near east side of porch. Number of names to be carved on the cross amended from 6 to 7 in correspondence leading to approval. The seventh name had not been on the Roll of Honour which the vicar….’found on the church door when I came in 1916′. The additional name was that of a man who had….’lived on the parish border, went to France at short notice and was soon killed’. The original list of names was: Robert Brown, Thomas Butt, Walter Ferry, Thomas Edward Gannon*, Thomas Martin, Stanley Simpson.”

2. “*This name on the manuscript list in the papers has + Joseph + written next to Thomas, which is itself underlined. I have assumed, therefore, that the seventh casualty is Joseph Gannon” (John and Mavis Dixon)

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine; Dorothy Hall

Diocese of Durham
Faculty number 1077, issued 07/07/1922

Auckland and County Chronicle
05/10/1922

Northern Echo
02/10/1922 reports unveiling.

Seaham Weekly News
06/10/1922 reports unveiling.