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North
Yorkshire
War Memorials, - Green Howards Museum |
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The Green Howards Museum in Richmond includes two First World War Battle Crosses in its collection.
Battle Crosses are the original grave markers of soldiers who were buried
in the field. They can either be simple wooden crosses with the identity of
the soldier marked on them, or more ornate wooden crosses (often used for
Officers). Under the authority of the Imperial War Graves Commission the old
wooden markers and crosses were gradually replaced with the standard headstones
now associated with Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries.
The original wooden grave markers were offered to the families of the deceased,
who were responsible for shipping the markers home and their final location.
Many families, however, could not afford the cost of this and the vast majority
of the markers were burnt in situ. Thus, the surviving Battlefield Crosses
have a somewhat unique value.
The two Battlefield Crosses in the Green Howards Museum are those for
1 Private Harry Major, 203163. 4th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Killed 16 July 1917.
and
2. Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Hedley Charlton, MC.
4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 22 March 1918.
Private Harry Major. 203163. 4th Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment. Son of James and Mary Ann Major, of II, Chelmsford St., Darlington.
Killed 16 July 1917. Aged 28.
Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Darlington.
Buried ROOKERY BRITISH CEMETERY, HENINEL.
This grave marker was rescued by Sean Godfrey, Chairman of the Cleveland Branch of The Western Front Association, from Darlington West Cemetery (presumably near the family grave of the Major family) in the mid-1990s and was presented to the Green Howards Museum for safe keeping.
Select the above image for a larger one which opens in a new window
(Details of the cross clearly seen in the larger image)
The original simple wooden grave marker for Lieutenant Colonel Bernard
Hedley Charlton, provided by the Imperial War Graves Commission, was
originally kept in the parish church at Tow Law, but in March 2012 was transferred
to the ownership of the Green Howards Museum.
However, it should be noted that this cross is possibly the original grave
marker, as the base has clearly rotted away. There is ANOTHER Battlefield
Cross for Lieutenant Colonel Charlton which is kept in
St. Nicholas' parish church, Guisborough. This particular cross has an
intact base and would, therefore, appear to be a replacement for the "Tow
Law cross".
David Charlesworth <david.j.charlesworth@btinternet.com> photographed
Lt. Col. Charlton's cross when it was in the church at Tow Law and the images
are shown below.
Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Hedley Charlton, MC. 4th
Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late William Charlton and of Frances
Elizabeth Charlton, J.P., of The West Garth, Guisborough, Yorks; husband of
Mrs. D. F. Money (formerly Charlton), of 79, Wodeland Avenue, Guildford. Killed
22 March 1918. Aged 32.
Buried ROISEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.
Lieutenant Colonel Charlton was Manager of the Hedley Hope Colliery, Tow Law,
before joining the Yorkshire Regiment.
The website, Returned from the Front, provides a comprehensive biography of Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Hedley Charlton.
The Green Howards Museum, - Trinity Square, Richmond
Photo : Edward Nicholl
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