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War Memorials, - Elsewhere Craghead (Co. Durham) |
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The War Memorial for Craghead (1)
Photo : Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)
The Craghead War memorial is located in the centre of the village, on the B6532 (Edward Street) adjacent to the Punch Bowl Inn.
The memorial is a Statue of Peace on top of a column on a pedestal, with the names of those commemorated on the four sides of the column. Those commemorated for the First World War are on the lower part of the column.
110 names of men who fell in the First World War are commemorated on the memorial, and a further 50 for those who died in the Second World War. A transcription of all the names can be found on the website for the North East War Memorials Project.
Two men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on this memorial.
Private Josephs Craigs. 33777. 7th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment,
formerly M/272394 Army Service Corps. Killed 15 November 1917.
Born Craghead (Durham), Enlisted Stanley, Resided Craghead.
Buried CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY.
Private James Thomas Wheatman. 48136. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire
Regiment. Son of Robert Wheatman of Craghead, Durham. Died at home 31 July
1919. Aged 19.
Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Newcastle-on-Tyne, Resided Craghead (Durham).
Buried CRAGHEAD (ST. THOMAS) CHURCHYARD.
Originally, Private Wheatman was shown in neither the CWGC nor SDGW records.
However, his Pension Record survives, and from the data in this the CWGC was
contacted and Private Wheatman is now in the CWGC register and has a Commonwealth
War Grave.
From his Pension Record it can be seen that;-
He was born in Q4 1899. Before enlisting he was a miner in Craghead. He enlisted
in the 7th Battalion on 2 April 1917 giving his age as 18 years 114 days,
- when he would still have been only 16 years old. He served in France from
7 January 1918 to 3 March 1918, on which date he suffered a bullet wound in
the back and was dangerously ill. He was in hospital for 130 days and was
discharged as no longer fit for duty (Silver War Badge) on 23 August 1918.
His injury had made him a paraplegic.
He was awarded the British and Victory medals, and died in (hospital?) in
Newcastle-on-Tyne in Q3 1919.
The War Memorial for Craghead (2)
Photo : Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)
Private Craig's Name on the Craghead War Memorial
Photo : Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)
Private Wheatman's Name on the Craghead War Memorial
Photo : Norman Cummings (<norman_cummings@hotmail.co.uk>)
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