Ferryhill Station RBL laid crosses at 68 graves in Duncombe Cemetery last week, writes Andy Denholm.
In an act of Remembrance and mark of respect, 71 Royal British Legion crosses were laid at 68 graves, a mixture of Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves, family headstones and unmarked graves in the cemetery.
Two brothers are listed on two graves, and a stepfather and stepson on another. It is sobering to think of the devastation this would have brought to families during World War One.
One of those buried in an unmarked grave is a former prisoner of war, Private William Atkinson, of Dean Bank. He enlisted on 11 August 1915, aged only 18 years old, with his 18th birthday celebrated just five days prior. He served with the Durham Light Infantry and was captured and made a prisoner of war in Germany from 27 May 1918.
A report regarding the 6th Durham Light Infantry on 27 May 1918 said: “Promptly at 1am on the 27th the barrage came down, and it was such as had never been experienced by the Battalion before. The enemy flooded the whole area to a depth of about 3,000 yards with high explosive, shrapnel, and gas shells. Even the stores and transport, as was afterwards disclosed, were shelled out of Muscourt, which was many miles back, south of the Aisne.“
William was released from the prisoner of war camp on 11 November 1918.
William was discharged from the Army on 24 March 1919, and he sadly died four days later, on 28 March 1919, at home in 10 Lightfoot Terrace from pneumonia. He was buried at Duncombe Cemetery in an unmarked grave on 1 April 1919. William was only 21 years old. He will never be forgotten.
Each of the graves also have a Remembrance Silhouette placed at the graveside. This is to honour their sacrifice and service for their country, and to declare that they will never be forgotten.
The Ferryhill Station Branch has researched all those who served in World War One and World War Two. During this research, the branch discovered that seven World War One veterans are sadly buried in unmarked graves. Five of these men are listed on Ferryhill War Memorial and the other two are remembered in the Book of Remembrance 1914–1918 and 1939–1945 at Chilton Town Council offices.
If anybody has any relatives who served in the forces who are buried in Duncombe Cemetery and would like a Remembrance Silhouette placing next to their grave to acknowledge their service, or if any of your relatives from Ferryhill or the immediate local area served in the forces during World War One or World War Two and you would like to share information, or possibly want to know more, please email andydenholm (at) gmail (dot) com.
Andy has so far researched and identified over 1500 local servicemen from West Cornforth, Ferryhill, Metal Bridge and Tursdale who signed up to serve during World War One. Tragically a great deal never returned home.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
