Memorial

Plaque 1914-18 Post Office

Durham City

Memorial Name: Plaque 1914-18 Post Office (D47.131)

NEWMP Ref No.: D47.131

Parish: Durham City

Original Location:

Durham General Post Office.

On the wall of the Sorting Office in Providence Road.

Present Location:

Moved in 1995 to the new Sorting Office, Carrville Industrial Estate, Belmont

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 2nd August 1920 by Mayor Cllr. W.H. Wood;
dedicated by Canon Dawson Walker.

Materials Used:

Brass on oak pattress.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

W.T. Toulson, engravers, Durham

Inscription:

For King and Country.

This tablet is erected
by the staff of the Durham Postal Area
to perpetuate the memory of
their colleagues who lost their Lives
in the Great War 1914-1919.

(Names)

At the call of their Country they left all, endured
Hardships, faced Danger and finally passed out of
the sight of Men, by the Path of Duty, giving up their Lives
that others might live in freedom.

Memorial Description:

Plaque 36 inches high x 24 inches wide (91cms x 61cms) on oak pattress 4 inches wider (10cms) all round.

The City arms are at the top, with a decorative border of Celtic knotted string work with G.P.O. monograms at the corners.

The names are listed in a single column, using mostly Roman upper and lower case with some elaborate lettering for the heading and the quotation.

Names:

16 names, ranks and regiments and place of work in the G.P.O.
See Transcript

Notes:

1. From Durham and District, 93 staff served. 36 were male sorting clerks, telegraphists etc. and two were females. Thirty postmen went from the head office and 35 from sub-offices. Their places were taken by a temporary force. 15 were killed, one was missing and 11 were wounded. Two obtained honours.

2. Canon Walker commented that most memorials he had seen were in churches and were only seen once a week, and only occasionally by those who did not attend church, whereas this one would be seen by all who visited the post office.

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; James Pasby

Durham Chronicle
30/07/1920 reports proposed unveiling;
06/08/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
30/07/1920 reports proposed unveiling on Monday;

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
07/08/1920 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
03/08/1920 reports unveiling

Sunderland Daily Echo
03/08/1920
(Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Source of quotation
“At the call of their country . . .” Quoted from a Certificate signed by King George V and sent to every bereaved family.

Sources Link: Northern Echo 1920 08 03 Tue

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
C. Sanders;
George Nairn;
Dorothy Hall;
James Pasby

Research In Progress:

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

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Names Documents:

DURHAM General Post Office.  

  

  For King and Country.  

  

  This Tablet is erected

  by the Staff of the Durham Postal Area

  to perpetuate the Memory of

  their Colleagues who lost their Lives

  in the Great War 1914-1919.  

  

  Pte. A. Davison,         Cameron Hdrs.     Durham

  Pte. T. Ewbank,          D.L.I.            Durham

  Spr. S. Hardy,           R.E. Signals      Durham

  Gnr. G.W. Harris,        R.F.A.            Durham

  L/Cpl. C.C. Heron,       R.E. Signals      Durham

  Pte. E.W. Keeble,        D.L.I.            Durham

  Spr. T. Telford,         R.E. Signals      Durham

  Pte. F.E. Wills,         D.L.I.            Durham

  Pte. R. Nicholson,       D.L.I.            Chester le Street

  Capt. F. Wilson., D.C.M. 17th Lancers      Fence Houses

  Pte. J.W. Finch,         D.L.I.            Fence Houses

  Sgt. A. Lavender,        R.F.A.            Fence Houses

  Gnr. J.W. Jackson,       R.F.A.            Hetton le Hole

  Pte. A.E. Shepherd,      West Yorks.       Houghton le Spring

  Pte. S. Duke,            Yorkshire Regt.   Lanchester

  Pte. L. Clark,           Coldstream Gds.   Willington        

  

  At the call of the Country they left all, endured

  Hardships, faced Danger and finally passed out of

  sight of Men, by the Path of Duty, giving up their Lives

  that others might Live in freedom.

NamesD47.131   

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