The Yorkshire Regiment, Local War Memorials

War Memorials Elsewhere, -
Shotton Colliery
(Co. Durham)

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The War Memorial in Shotton Colliery, Co. Durham.
Photo by Edward Nicholl, <emn@enicholl.com>

The Shildon War Memorial is located in a Memorial Garden, situated at the corner where Front Street meets Station Road in Shotton Colliery. The memorial consists of a sculpture of a soldier on top of a square pedestal. The dedication of the memorial is on the front face of this pedestal.

The names of the 152 men who lost their lives in the First World War are commemorated on two bronze panels on either side of the pedestal. The names of 38 persons killed by enemy action in the Second World War are on a single bronze panel at the rear of the pedestal.

12 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are named on this memorial.
Of interest is that of these 12, 5 lost their lives while fighting with the 6th Battalion in Gallipoli.
One of those 6th Battalion soldiers, - L/Cpl M Taylor, lived at 76 Victoria Street in Shotton Colliery. When visiting Shotton Colliery to photograph the memorial, I happened to photograph Victoria Street and L/Cpl Taylor's house can still be seen. A view of Victoria Street, showing this house, is below.

Serjeant Walter Coulthard. 11142. 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 21 August 1915.
Born Carlisle, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton Colliery (Durham).
Commemorated on Panels 55 to 58, HELLES MEMORIAL.

Private Robert Craig. 17139. 6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 22 January 1916.
Born Castle Eden (Durham), Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton Colliery.
Buried MALTA (CAPUCCINI) NAVAL CEMETERY.

Private James Elliott. 16659. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Matthew Elliott, of 11, Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, Co. Durham. Killed 22 August 1915. Aged 18.
Born Turgell Colliery, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton Colliery.
Commemorated on Panels 55 to 58, HELLES MEMORIAL.

Private George Frankland. 15642. 8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 January 1917.
Born Shotton, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton.
Buried RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND.

Private Christopher Hanby, 16033.
6th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of the late Christopher and Sarah Hanby. Killed 12 December 1915. Aged 35.
Born Shotton, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton.
(Name spelt "Hanley" in SDGW; GH d/b gives as "Hanby")
Buried HILL 10 CEMETERY.

Private Robert Hardwick, 17853. 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 17 July 1916.
Born Cassop (Durham), Enlisted West Hartlepool, Resided Shotton Colliery.
Buried NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY.

Private James Harker. 13281. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Died 18 September 1916.
Born Pelton (Durham), Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton Colliery.
Commemorated on Panel 4, PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL.

Private Frederick Lever, 45357. 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Formerly 5/41763 8th T R Battalion. Son of Henry and Sophia Lever, of 5, New Row, Eppleby, Darlington; husband of Gertrude Lever, of Kiln House, Frosterley, Darlington. Died 9 September 1917. Aged 34.
Born Eppleby (Yorks), Enlisted West Hartlepool, Resided Haswell.
Commemorated on Panels 52 to 54 & 162A, TYNE COT MEMORIAL.

Private Thomas Edward Littlewood. 46010. 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, formerly 16653 the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Joseph and Sarah Littlewood. Born Shotton Colliery, Co. Durham. Killed 17 December 1916. Aged 19.
Born Sunderland, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton Colliery.
Buried LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY.
(SDGW and CWGC not quite in agreement as to place of birth, though Shotton Colliery more likely.)

Private William McGee. 16566. 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Husband of Elizabeth Costigan (formerly McGee), of 6, Quality Row, Shotton Colliery, Co. Durham. Killed 30 November 1915. Aged 29.
Born Seaham Harbour, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton Colliery.
Buried GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY.
(Shown on the Shotton Colliery Memorial as "W Magee".)

Lance Corporal William Smales. 16657. 8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of John Thomas and Margaret Smales, of 7, Dene Street, Shotton Colliery, near Sunderland, Co. Durham. Killed 27 October 1918. Aged 23.
Born Shotton Colliery, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton.
Buried GIAVERA BRITISH CEMETERY, ARCADE.

Lance Corporal Mark Taylor. 11631. 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of J. T. and A. Taylor, of 17, Fryer St., Shotton Colliery, Co. Durham; husband of Agnes Taylor, of 76, Victoria St., Shotton Colliery, Co. Durham. Killed 22 August 1915. Aged 23.
Born West Houghton, Enlisted Sunderland, Resided Shotton.
Commemorated on Panel Panel 55 to 58, HELLES MEMORIAL.

The Dedication on the Shotton Colliery War Memorial. The Dedication on the Shotton Colliery War Memorial.
Photo by Edward Nicholl, <emn@enicholl.com>

First World War Commemorations "A" - "J" on the Shotton Colliery War Memorial.
Photo by Edward Nicholl, <emn@enicholl.com>

First World War Commemorations"J" - "Y" on the Shotton Colliery War Memorial.
Photo by Edward Nicholl, <emn@enicholl.com>

The Sculpture of the Soldier on the Shotton Colliery War Memorial.
Photo by Edward Nicholl, <emn@enicholl.com>

Victoria Street, Shotton Colliery. No 76 (L/Cpl Taylor's house) is immediately to the right of the blue car. Victoria Street, Shotton Colliery. No 76 (L/Cpl Taylor's house, white door) is immediately to the right of the blue car.
Photo by Edward Nicholl, <emn@enicholl.com>

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