Obelisk 1914-18 1939-45 War Memorial Hospital

Outside the War Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road, Dralington, DL3 6HX. NZ 28214 15274

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 11th November 1928 by Joseph Stephenson, former sergeant in the Durham Light Infantry.
dedicated by Rev. R.F. Drury Vicar of Darlington.

b. Rededicated 10th November 1946 by Rev. D.B. Porter Vicar of Darlington.

Stainton Stone

£110,000 including hospital.

1. Public subscription; fund raising events; town workmen gave 3d per week from their pay packets. In 1923, the War Memorial Committee reported a fading lack of public interest for the project; many thought the hospital should be paid for out of the rates. The estimated cost of £80,000 which had been forecast had not been raised. Many firms were no longer interested in making payments, and there was little sympathy amongst the workers.

2.   In 1923 it was decided to invest £14,000 of the £24,000 now in hand with the Corporation at 41%. The Rotary Club took on the job of trying to raise funds, not only for the new hospital but for the maintenance of the old one. “It was explained that the club hoped to raise £3,000 by this effort, which would be £2,000 above what is received at present, and they suggested that it should be divided equally between the building fund and the maintenance of the hospital. It was agreed that only one third should go for maintenance.”

3..   A request from the Library that a script roll of honour drawn up by them should be put into permanent form was allowed to ride following annoyance that the Council were being asked for money for another scheme when they hadn’t raised the money for the main project.

4. The name of “Patrick McKay” should be “Patrick McVay”

a.
To
our
glorious dead
their names are
inscribed on
marble tablets in the
hall of memories
1914-1918

b.
1939-45

Obelisk standing on a pedestal on an octagonal base.

A platform of 48 slabs, total width 18 feet 6 inches x 22 inches high (5.63m x 558mm) has two steps at each end.

The base is 82 inches square x 40 inches high (2.08m x 1.01m)

The very tall column is 48 inches (1.21m)  square.

It has a bronze wreath raised in half relief at the bottom of both back and front.

The dates are incised into the four sides.

1. Joseph Stephenson was an ex-Sergeant in the Durham Light Infantry whose name was drawn by ballot from 25 members of the British Legion a few months before the ceremony. He lived at 51 Eldon Street, and was employed at the L.N.E.R. Whessoe Lane Shop, having retired from the army the previous year following 16 years’ service. He served in France, Italy and Belgium to 1915 to 1919.
Simon Raine asked the question in the Northern Echo 15/11/1999:
“Considering that Darlington was a railway town, the random choice of someone called Stephenson was an odd co-incidence. Is anything known of Sgt. Stephenson?”
Joseph Stephenson’s grandson Paul responded on 22/11/1999 that his grandfather was a paternal descendant of (railway) George Stephenson’s uncle. The drawing of his name in the ballot was pure co-incidence.

2. In 1947 the council wanted to protect the memorial by enclosing it with railings. Government authority was required but was refused because steel was in short supply.

Men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment
Historic England Listing

Photos: C. Sanders; D. Hill; Lonely Tower; old postcard: John Grainger

Northern Despatch
11/11/1946 reports rededication.

Northern Echo
21/11/2020 tells JH Stephenson’s story

The Times
06/05/1933 page 9 Issue 46437 column B reports unveiling of obelisk and hospital.

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Darlington Hospital
Ref: H/Da 2/153 Account of cost of building administration block and war memorial, 1926 (1 volume, leather bound)
Ref: H/Da 2/158 Account of payments made to War Memorial Fund, 1920 – 1924 (1 volume, leather half-bound)
Ref: H/Da 2/190 War Memorial Committee minute book, 6 March 1919 – 22 May 1925 (1 volume, leather half-bound)
Ref: H/Da 2/191 Joint Hospital and War Memorial Committee minute book, 29 November 1920 – 23 May 1971 (1 volume, card bound)
Ref: H/Da 2/192 Joint Hospital and War Memorial Committee minutes, 27 March 1925 – 3 July 1929 Including Executive Building Committee minutes with tenders for work carried out at hospital, 27 March 1925 – 22 July 1932 (1 file and 34 papers)
Ref: H/Da 2/223 War Memorial Fund bank book, 7 October 1924 – 16 August 1928 (1 volume, cloth bound)

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
C. Sanders;
Karen Green;
Dorothy Hall;
Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance

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