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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Darlington (Co. Durham), North Road Railway Station |
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The First World War Memorial in Darlington's North Road Railway Station
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Photo : Leona White-Hannant BA (Hons), MA, AMA
Darlington's North Road Railway Station houses the "Head of Steam" Railway Museum. Inside the Museum is the memorial to the men of the Darlington Railway Works who lost their lives in the First World War.
A photograph of this memorial has been generously provided for use on this website by the Curator of the "Head of Steam" Railway Museum, Leona White-Hannant BA (Hons), MA, AMA. We are very grateful for use of this photo.
Of the 45 names commemorated for the First World War, four are those of soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
Lieutenant Charles Reginald Hurworth.
5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 26 March 1918.
Commemorated Panel 31 and 32, POZIERES MEMORIAL.
(Incorrectly shown on the memorial as Captain Hurworth.)
Lance Corporal David Iceton. 20709. 7th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Husband of Mrs. J. Iceton, of 10, Pearson St., Newport, Middlesbrough.
Died 3 July 1916.
Born Darlington, Enlisted Darlington.
Buried MERICOURT-L'ABBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.
(Incorrectly shown on the memorial as being in the 4th Battalion. Described
in 1911 Census as a crane driver in railway plant).
Private Thomas William Horsley Nelson. 35187. 4th Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 5/88013, 6th T R Battalion. Son of Thomas and
Ruth Nelson, of 15, Oakland Gardens, Harrowgate Hill, Darlington. Died 12
April 1918. Aged 19.
Born Darlington, Enlisted Darlington.
Commemorated Panel 4, PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL.
Serjeant Taylor Peirson,
21426. 12th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John and the late Mrs. Peirson,
of Darlington; husband of Margaret Peirson, of Great Burdon, Darlington. Killed
10 April 1918. Aged 28.
Born Darlington, Enlisted Darlington, Resided Great Burdon (Darlington).
Buried HAVERSKERQUE BRITISH CEMETERY.
(Wrongly shown on the memorial as being a Gunner in the RFA. Described in
1911 Census as a railway clerk.)
The following biography of Lieutenant Hurworth is from Bob Coulson's work, which can be found elsewhere on this website.
Charles Hurworth was born in County Durham, the family then moved to the
Wakefield area where he worked in the printing trade before the war.
He initially served in the ranks of the Yorkshires before receiving his commission
and joined the 5th battalion in a draft after their heavy losses at the 2nd
Battle of Ypres in 1915.
During the summer Somme offensive of 1916 Lt Hurworth was wounded in action
on September 10th in an attack between High Wood and Martinpuich.
He fought at Arras in April 1917 and in late September saw action during 3rd
Ypres, the Battle of Passchendaele. Christmas of 1917 was spent in the Ypres
Salient but when the German Spring Offensive opened on March 21st 1918 Lt
Hurworth and the
battalion were training at Demuin. On March 23rd the battalion went by train
to Brie and then marched up to the line at Hancourt. They were in action near
Licourt and at 8-00am on March 26th a heavy German attack forced orders for
a withdrawal of battalions from left to right. Due to a mix up left and right
withdrew leaving the 5th Yorkshires exposed on three sides resulting in “The
whole of the rearguard platoon being killed or captured”.
Lt Charles Reginald Hurworth died in this action on March 26th 1918.
Darlington's
North Road Railway Station
Photo © Copyright David
Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative
Commons Licence
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