by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, Darlington, In Your Town, Latest
A GRIM discovery in a French garden has triggered a poignant search across the region for the family of a young officer who gave his life for his country almost a century ago. His remains were uncovered purely by chance after heavy rainfall uncovered a shallow grave...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, In Your Town, Latest, Peterlee
AN ARTIST has painted a battle-scarred landscape in memory of soldiers shot at dawn during the First World War. Bob Ord’s work forms a central feature of his latest exhibition at Durham Botanic Garden, in Hollingside Lane, off South Road, Durham City. The 79-year-old,...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, Crook, In Your Town, Latest
ON Tuesday, Howden-le-Wear Local History Society is holding an open evening to discuss the First World War project for which it has just received £8,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The society aims to research the stories of all 30 of the men whose names appear on...
by Chris Lloyd | Diary of Gunner George James, Durham, In Your Town, Latest, War Stories
IN the second installment in Gunner George James’ diary, written 98 years ago, he has been withdrawn about 20 miles from the frontline at Ypres. Gunner James, aged about 20, was a miner from Littletown, a pit village to the east of Durham City. His diary is extremely...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, In Your Town, Latest, York
A MUSEUM has appealed for help to translate two diaries written in shorthand by a soldier during the First World War. York Castle Museum said it had unearthed the diaries in its archive and it was believed they contained details of the Palestine Campaign, which was...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, In Your Town, Latest, Sedgefield
A HISTORY society is on a mission to discover more about the brave men who fought and died in the First World War. Sedgefield Local History Society plans to commemorate the centenary of the conflict by staging an exhibition at Ceddesfeld Hall, in the town, on July 12....
by Chris Lloyd | Diary of Gunner George James, Durham, In Your Town, Latest, People, War Stories
Over six months, The Northern Echo serialised a First World War diary which was kindly lent to us by John Tyson, of Eaglescliffe. The diary was written by Gunner George James, who hailed from Littletown, a mining village a few miles to the east of Durham City, near...
by Chris Lloyd | In Your Town, Kirk Merrington, Latest, People
Looking back from the centrally-heated 21st Century at lives lived more than 100 years ago, they appear very tough and rather cruel. Memories 155 began to tell the story of Rifleman Edward Roberts, who lies beneath the only First World War headstone in Kirk Merrington...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, In Your Town, Latest, Sedgefield
MEMORIES, as you must be aware by now, is the most extraordinary part of The Northern Echo. In Memories 156, we treated you to a history of syphilis, an article which you would not find in any other section of the paper. Now comes an article about an analysis of the...
by Chris Lloyd | In Your Town, Latest, Shildon
SILK postcards were the preferred method of sending special seasonal greetings home from the Western Front during the First World War. The embroidered designs were mass produced in factories in Paris and sent to French or Belgian women who lived just behind the front...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, In Your Town, Latest, York
COMMEMORATIONS of the “war to end all wars” have been given a £1m boost as preparations continue for the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The North Yorkshire home to some of the most important regimental collections in the UK has been awarded £999,900...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, Chester-le-Street, In Your Town, Latest
A SCHOOL has been awarded a lottery grant to allow pupils to preserve the history of their community during the First World War. Roseberry College and Sixth Form, near Chester-le-Street, has been awarded £5,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to mark the centenary of...
by Chris Lloyd | Barnard Castle, Centenary, In Your Town, Latest
TOWN councillors in Barnard Castle have agreed to work alongside officials at The Bowes Museum on an ambitious project to complete a roll of honour listing everyone from Teesdale who served in the Great War. Members pledged £845 towards the cost of staging two launch...
by Chris Lloyd | In Your Town, Latest, Sedgefield, War Stories
AS many people who’ve delved into their family trees know, history is not always kind and convenient. After ten years of searching, Memories 152 finally told almost the full story of Pieter Vermote, who lies beneath a splendid Belgian headstone in Winterton...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, Durham, In Your Town, Latest
VILLAGERS have been awarded lottery funding to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. Brancepeth Archives and History Group has received a grant of £8,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to commemorate the centenary of the conflict. During...
by Chris Lloyd | Ferryhill, In Your Town, Latest
THERE is one First World War grave in St John’s churchyard in Kirk Merrington. The pale grey Portland stone headstone says it belongs to Rifleman E Roberts, of the Royal Irish Rifles, who died on November 18, 1915, aged 32. Memories 149 wondered aloud about his...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, In Your Town, Latest, Sedgefield
A PARISH council’s bid to restore a village cenotaph in time for the 100th anniversary of the First World War has reached an important milestone. Bishop Middleham Parish Council has submitted plans to Durham County Council to reposition the war memorial at St...
by Chris Lloyd | Darlington, In Your Town, Latest, People
At the start of the Great War, Joseph Pease, great-grandson of South Durham’s first MP, was spoiling for a fight. By the end, he felt ‘soldiering is a waste of life’. ON October 11, 1914, Joseph Pease wrote to his father: “What the –––– is the matter with the War...
by Chris Lloyd | Centenary, Darlington, In Your Town, Latest
A course to help people discover the stories and lives behind the names that appear on local war memorials has been organised by the Darlington Workers Educational Association. The seven-week course has been arranged to mark the centenary of the First World War and...
by Chris Lloyd | Darlington, In Your Town, Latest, People
Dora is enveloped in a huge army greatcoat. It is buttoned up to her neck, its enormous collars flapping around her ears, the epaulettes sloping off her slender shoulders, and the long sleeves scrunched up around her elbows so that her hands are free. SHE peers out...
