Washington County Durham

HOME     WHAT'S WHERE     PAGE 1/2     GEORGE GIBSON     HARRATON MEMORIAL    

Memories of  The Great War

Washington's  WW1  Volunteers - 2/2


Benjamin William Brunson

WW1 Volunteer
( Husband of Elizabeth Crow, sister of Newrick, Ralph and Thomas Crow )

In
Affectionate Remembrance
of

Benjamin William
Brunson

The beloved husband of
Elizabeth Brunson of New Herrington

Who died of Wounds
received in France,
July 13th, 1916,
Aged 39 Years.

24  Lanton Street
      New Herrington

Ben Brunson's Memorial Ribbon

BEN BRUNSON
Yorkshire Regiment

''Greater love hath no man than
that which lay down his life for
his friends''

Lord, ere I join this deadly strife,
And battle terrors dare,
First would I render soul and life
To Thine Almighty care;
And when grim death in smoke
wreaths robed,
Comes thundering o'er the scene,
What fears can reach a soldier's heart
Where trust in Thee has been.

Christ shall clasp the broken chain,
Closer when we meet again.

 

''The above ribbon commemorates Benjamin William Brunson who married Elizabeth Crow, sister of the three Crow brothers, in 1897 and lived in Pattinson Town (1901) before moving to High Chapel Row, Fatfield (1911) then Herrington. Ben served in the Yorkshire Regiment and died of wounds, received at The Somme, on July 13th, 1916.''

[ Photographs, Information and Comments: Thanks to Dr Ken Reay.]

Ben Brunson's resting place
BEN BRUNSON
Heilly Station Cemetery

Richard Drummond

One of Washington's First Volunteers

In
Affectionate Remembrance
of

Richard Drummond

Who died of wounds received
in action in France,
October 14th 1915.

The beloved Son of James and
Margaret Drummond
of Hobson Terrace
Washington Station, and Beloved
Husband of Margaret Drummond
of Usworth Colliery.

Richard Drummond's's Memorial Ribbon

CORPORAL RICHARD DRUMMOND
Yorkshire Regiment

''Greater love hath no man than
that which lay down his life for
his friends''

Had He asked us, well we know,
We would cry, "O spare this blow!"
Yes, with streaming tears should pray.
"Lord, we love him, let him stay."

Christ shall clasp the broken chain,
Closer when we meet again.

 

''Richard served in the 10th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment and died of wounds on October 14th, 1915, age 22 yrs.
He is remembered on the Washington Village Memorial and is buried in the Usworth Holy Trinity churchyard.
Richard’s parents James and Margaret lived at 7 Hobson Terrace. Richard married Mary Nagle late 1915 and they lived in 21 Coxons Row, Usworth Colliery. He died shortly after their marriage. They had a daughter Edith L. Drummond, born in the second quarter of 1916.
''

[ Photographs, Information and Comments: Thanks to Dr Ken Reay.]

 Corporal Richard Drummond's resting place
RICHARD DRUMMOND
Usworth Holy Trinity

Jack Gilmaney

WW1 Volunteer
( 5 Robinson Terrace )

Front of Card from Jack Gilmaney

Inside Card from Jack Gilmaney
New Year Greeting from Jack to his Girlfriend, Lizzie.

Thiepval Memorial
Thiepval Memorial

Private John Gilmaney
John (Jack) Gilmaney

John was killed 1st July 1916 and is Remembered at Thiepval.

[ Thanks to Peter Welsh and Washington History Society. ]

John Edward Green

One of Washington's first Volunteers
(High Barmston Cottages)

Memorial Plaaque
Memorial Board created by Parishioners of Washington Holy Trinity Church

It's POSSIBLE that the illustrations were done by Canon Lomax.  John was a Churchgoer
and there was a service held for him at Washington Holy Trinity Church.
Canon Lomax would have been familiar with Albert Basilica,
one of the illustrations.  He was there in 1916.

John Green's Headstone
John Green's Headstone at Vlamertinghe

Private John Green
John Edward Green

A Member of 8 DLI John was killed in April 1915.
He is buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, near Ypres.
John Edward Green was the third Washington man to be killed in WW1.
He had been in Belgium for 8 days.

[ Thanks to Peter Welsh and Washington History Society. ]

World War 1 Campaign Medals

Pip, Squeak & Wilfred
Pip, Squeak & Wilfred

Pip:  The 1914 Star  (unofficially, The Mons Star)

Awarded to those who served in France or Belgium between 5th August 1914 to midnight on 22nd November 1914.
The reverse is plain with the recipient's service number, rank, name and unit impressed on it.

Pip:  The 1914-15 Star

Awarded to those who served in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915.
The reverse is plain with the recipient's service number, rank, name and unit impressed on it.

Squeak:  The British War Medal, 1914-20

Awarded to those who entered a theatre of war.  Those who served overseas from part of the British Empire also qualified.
The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit is impressed on the rim.

Wilfred:  The Allied Victory Medal, 1914-19

The Victory Medal was restricted to those who entered a theatre of war.
The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit is impressed on the rim.

Pip, Squeak & Wilfred: a strip cartoon published in the Daily Mirror from 1919 to 1956.

 

Dedication of Memorial Garden in Washington Village

Inscription
[ Thanks to Photographer, Tom Copeman - 3rd August 2014 ]

 

Centenary of WW1 Armistice Day

Village - 100 Years after Armistice
WASHINGTON VILLAGE MEMORIAL

Village - 100 Years after Armistice
SILHOUETTE MEMORIAL ON THE VILLAGE GREEN

•   •   ◊   •   •

Harraton - 100 Years after Armistice
HARRATON MEMORIAL

Harraton - 100 Years after Armistice
100 YEARS SINCE ARMISTICE DAY
[ Thanks to Photographer, Keith Cockerill - 11th November 2018 ]