Following a recent visit to Normandy by Clare Metcalfe and Andy Denholm, where Clare was visiting as a token of respect to her grandfather, William Kennedy, who served during World War II with the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, they highlight points of note below.
Whilst visiting numerous D-Day locations and all the D-Day landing beaches along the Normandy coastline, Clare and Andy, who are members of the Royal British Legion Branches at Ferryhill and West Cornforth, visited numerous Commonwealth War Grave cemeteries and placed crosses at the headstones of local soldiers from Ferryhill, Tursdale, Chilton, Spennymoor, Trimdon, Coxhoe and Eldon.
Following a request, a cross was laid at the grave of a Ferryhill resident’s uncle who is also buried at the Bayeux War Cemetery. Two of the graves visited were soldiers from Ferryhill: Sgt. Obadiah Matthew Stewart M.M. of the 6th Durham Light Infantry and Guardsman Thomas Stephenson of the Welsh Guards. Sgt Stewart and Clare’s grandfather, both from Ferryhill, served with the 6th Durham Light Infantry. Clare wonders if they knew each other well whilst serving together.
During their visit to the Jerusalem War Cemetery in Chouain, France, it was noted that 26 of the 47 soldiers buried there served with the Durham Light Infantry, of which 11 of those were from the 6th Battalion, including Private Cook from Trimdon and L/Sgt. William Williams from Spennymoor.
Sgt. Obadiah Matthews Stewart was aged 33 when he was killed in action on the 15th June 1944 whilst serving with the Battalion Sniper Section, and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, France. Obadiah joined the Army in 1932 and prior to enlisting, he was formerly an underground worker at Mainsforth Colliery. His parents resided at 22 Church Street, Ferryhill Station and moved to Chilton in later in life. Obadiah was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in 1941 in Tobruk, when Sgt Stewart and Private Crawly pulled two badly wounded men back to their lines, taking three hours to do it. Obadiah’s father, Robert, also served with the Durham Light Infantry in World War I. Obadiah is remembered on Ferryhill War Memorial, and in the Books of Remembrance at Ferryhill Library and St Aidan’s Church, Chilton.
Thomas Stephenson was aged only 24 was killed in action on 25th July 1944 and is buried in Ranville Cemetery, France. Ranville War Cemetery is known as the Airborne Cemetery, as casualties of Operation Deadstick. The Airborne attack on Pegasus Bridge are also buried there. Thomas, of 23 Lightfoot Terrace, was a Colliery Engine man prior to the war. He is remembered on Ferryhill War Memorial and in the Books of Remembrance at Ferryhill Library and St Luke’s Church. A collection plate in the Methodist Church, Ferryhill also bears his name on the rim, in remembrance of him: “In Memory of Thomas Stephenson killed in action 25th July 1944.”
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
