Etherley Methodist Church’s Remembrance display, fixed on either side of the original church door, has been drawing favourable comments from the local community.
“On one side is a World War I ‘Horse and Soldier’ silhouette, and on the other side is a World War II display including a large spitfire and tank, some paratroopers and navy figures,” said Dave Cadman.
The horse and soldier remembers Warrior, a real war horse, foaled on the Isle of Wight in 1908, the church explains on the Parish Council website.
“In 1914 Warrior went to war on the Western Front with Winston Churchill’s great friend, General Jack Seely. There he survived all imaginable disasters and was active in many famous battles including those at the Somme and Ypres.
“On the battlefields of the First World War, he showed death-defying bravery and inspired thousands of soldiers. He returned home four years later. Eight million other horses and mules did not survive.
“Returning with Jack Seely to his native Isle of Wight in 1918, Warrior lived on until the grand old age of 33, even winning a point to point four years to the day that he had led the charge at Moreuil Wood.
“Warrior was posthumously awarded the highest medal for animal gallantry. His obituary in the Evening Standard in 1941 described him as the ‘Horse the Germans Could Not Kill’.”
“Meanwhile, the church’s knitting community have been very hard at work over the last two months,” adds David, “and we have received very positive and moving comments from people walking passed our church.”
The church held a Remembrance event on Saturday (1 November) which included an evening meal, followed by a special program by the Durham Constabulary Brass Band at 7.30pm.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
