St Marys Church And The Great War Connections
St Marys Church contains reminders of the sacrifices made by the men of the village during the Great War 1914 – 1919. The altar window inside St Mary’s depicts the ultimate sacrifice with a soldier at the feet of Christ on the cross. The other windows depict the Crosses of St George and St Cuthbert.…
Prisoners of War, Coxhoe Hall WW2
Prisoners of War at Coxhoe “Towards the end of the war the Hall was used as a prisoner of war camp for Italians captured in North Africa and later by German prisoners of war”. From The History of Coxhoe by Robin Walton Coxhoe Hall was unoccupied at the beginning of WW2, John and Maud having…
For Distinguished Conduct in the Field
The story of Sgt.James Duffy, DCM. Sgt. James Duffy D.C.M 25/935 25th (S) Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers 2nd Tyneside Irish THE MINSTREL BOY by Thomas Moore The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone In the ranks of death you will find him; His father’s sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind…
The First of Ninety Seven
Robert Henry Barker Pte. 8853 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry The village of Sleetburn was a small mining community situated in the Deerness Valley and is now better known as New Brancepeth just to the West of Durham City, and it was there in 1887, at 8, Hepworth Street that John and Margaret Barker added…
Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
In the Somme region of Northern France stands the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. Bearing the names of over 73,000 men of the United Kingdom and South African Forces who fell during WW1 and who have no known grave, amongst them are residents of Coxhoe and surrounding villages. To discover a little more about the…
Sergeant William Wilson DCM & Bar
Sergeant Wilson was one of only 7 Durham Light Infantry soldiers to gain aBar to his Distinguished Conduct Medal during World War 1. In effect hewas a recipient of this gallantry award twice. To read his story follow the link.
Steetley Lime Co., Airships and Spies
on 18th August 1916 Steetley Limestone Company received an unexpected and unwelcome visit in the shape of two German Zeppelins. Read all about the events of the attack by following the link to this article.
Brothers in Arms
What can be worse for any family than to lose a son? But to lose 2 sons within a few months of one another is a catastrophe for any family. Such an event was far from unique during the years 1914 – 1918 and the passage of the Great War for civilisation. Throughout the kingdom…
Coxhoe In The Wars
During World War 1 Great Britain and the Empire mobilised 8.9 million men in the struggle against Germany and their invasion of France, Belgium and eastern Europe. Of those who took the Kings shilling and enlisted for the duration of the war, 908,000 were killed, 2 million were wounded and 191,000 were either taken prisoner…
Coxhoe Local History Group 