(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group)
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 or classed as missing.
Coxhoe men, along with every other community in the country did not shirk their sense of duty when it came to stepping forward to fight injustice and aid those less able. At the end of the war, Coxhoe like every other community in the nation paid the ultimate sacrifice. Mothers lost sons, sisters lost brothers, wives lost husbands and children lost fathers. Families were deprived of loved ones and the community lost a generation.
In keeping with every other community nationwide those who lost their lives in the Great War are remembered on the thousands of memorials, rolls of honour, plaques and many other symbols and artefacts that seek to honour those who died.
We could never begin to tell the stories of everyone who served and survived the horrors of war nor could we even scratch the surface of those who died, but we can through the memorials of the village and the resources available today paint a picture of some of the brave men of this village and surrounding district
Coxhoe War Memorials
Coxhoe and District War Memorial
Perhaps the most familiar of all the village war memorials is the one that is most visible. Situated in the centre of the village, in front of the village hall, the memorial is inscribed with the names of 97 men who served and died in the Great War of 1914 -1918 and 28 names of the men who served and died during World War 2, from 1939 -1945. Erected in 1922 at a cost of £125 the memorial was unveiled by 19/833 Sergeant William Wilson DCM & Bar who served with the 19th (Service) Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry during World War 1 having distinguished himself on 2 occasions through his bravery and devotion to duty. Of the 25,000 soldiers awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal during World War 1, only 490 soldiers received the double award, Sergeant Wilson amongst them. Sergeant Wilson DCM and Bar was a native of Coxhoe.
Durham Light Infantry
Made from granite the memorial shield is set in a wall of coarse stone which measures almost 7 feet in height and just over 5 feet wide. Originally set within the wall of the Village Hall, the memorial was later moved to its current location within the small memorial park.It is worthy of note that the villages of Cornforth, Kelloe, Tursdale and Bowburn also list names of men who appear on the Coxhoe and District War Memorial.
St. Marys Church
The War memorial within St Marys Church is situated beneath the west window and lists 86 men who died during World War 1. Made of brass and mounted on an oak board the memorial was dedicated in 1920 by Bishop Moule, Bishop of Durham. Officers and Non commissioned officers are at the top of the board with private soldiers beneath.
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. The window was paid for through public subscription and dedicated by Bishop Moule in 1920 at the time of the decication of the War Memorial.
Other acts of remembrance within St Mary’s Church include:-
A Prie Dieu, or prayer desk which is usually used for private prayer is dedicated to the memory of Private 6727 William Ogle Reed of 5th Seaforth Highlanders. William Ogle Reed who resided in Blackgate, Coxhoe was killed in action on 13 November 1916, during the final days of the Battle of The Somme and is interred in Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet , France.Follow this link to find details of Private Reed.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/111680/WILLIAM%20OGLE%20REED/
William McIlwain resided in Co-operative Terrace Coxhoe and was employed as a Blacksmith. At the outbreak of WW1 he enlisted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards and embarked for France on the 16th March 1915. William was killed in action on the 4th of June 1915 and is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial in northern France. St Marys Church holds a ewer (jug) in remembrance of William Mcilwain.Follow this link to find details of Private McIlwain.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/853702/WILLIAM%20McILWAIN/
A vase in the church serves as a reminder to the most senior serviceman to die during the conflict. Lieutenant William James Ramsay of the Royal Flying Corps, resided in West Hetton Lodge, Coxhoe. Lt WJ Ramsay was killed in a crash on 27 March 1918. He was in RE8 B5114 of 52 Sqn when it got into a side slip after take off and crashed in flames. He was the observer and the pilot was 2 Lt RD Turnell, who was also killed. They were heading out on a bombing operation, in all likelihood on the Somme bridges, as the unit had been doing this and contact work in the days preceding. The unit had moved four times in the previous week and crews that day were taking off from yet another new airfield, at Abbeville, in circumstances of the direst emergency.
Lt Ramsay lies at rest in St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France
Follow this link to find details of Lieutenant Ramsay.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/205091/WILLIAM%20JAMES%20RAMSAY/
William David Carr of Cornforth Lane was the second son of William Carr a local butcher. He joined the 13th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment and died in September 1918 during the last weeks of the war as the Allied Forces pushed the German Army back towards the River Rhine. William Carr is remembered in St Marys Church with a wardens staff mounted with the Cross of St Cuthbert.Follow this link to find details of Private Carr.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/286677/W%20CARR/
St Andrews Methodist Church
The memorial plaque in St. Andrews Methodist Church lists the 8 members of the congregation who lost their lives in the Great War 1914 -1918
Coxhoe Primary School
Cornforth Lane School (now Coxhoe Primary School) opened it’s doors to pupils in May 1909 only 5 years before the start of the Great War. Accepting pupils from neighbouring villages as well as Coxhoe, by the end of the war a number of former pupils had fallen.
The plaque was paid for by private subscription from former pupils and staff the school and is made of brass and Oak. The names of 22 former pupils are inscribed on the plaque.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
| Name | Unit | Date Died | Home Address |
| Ainsley. Thomas | 3 East Yorkshire | 4.5.1915 | Long Row, Coxhoe |
| Ayton. William H. | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 27.5.1918 | Coronation Terrace, Coxhoe |
| Bartlett. Charles | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 25.5.1915 | Long Row, Coxhoe |
| Barker. Robert.H | 2 Durham Light Inf. | 21.9.1914 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Bell. George H. | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 27.5.1918 | West Terrace, Coxhoe |
| Bell. W | Details unknown | Any Details Please Contact Us | |
| Bell. William H. | 3 Worcestershire Regt. | 25.9.1918 | Church Street, Coxhoe |
| Bowes. Ralph | 1/3 Dur. Fort Coy. R.E | 14.7.1916 | 10,Blackgate, Coxhoe |
| Brandon. Thomas | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 4.3.1917 | Coronation Terrace, Coxhoe |
| Brown. Norman | 1/5 Durham Light Inf | 7.9.1916 | Tursdale House, Coxhoe |
| Burke. John | 1/5 Durham Light Inf | 21.4.1917 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Burnell. James | 8 N/land Fus. | 15.9.1915 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Carr. Anthony | 13 Durham Light Inf. | 4.8.1916 | Long Row, Coxhoe |
| Carr. William | 13 Gloucestershire Reg | 27.9.1918 | |
| Chisholm. Thomas P | 7 N/land Fus. | 25.10.1917 | Dundee House, Cornforth Lane. |
| Cranson. James | 8 Yorkshire Regt. | 3.10.1916 | |
| Crookes. Jos. Ed. | 6 East Kent Reg. | 27.8.1918 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Crosby. Thomas | 15 Durham Light Inf. | 17.7.1916 | Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe |
| Davies. Horace | 8 N/land Fus. | 19.8.1915 | Bowburn Cottage, Coxhoe |
| Duignan. Philip | 24 N/land Fus. T.Irish | 1.7.1916 | Born Coxhoe Pottery |
| Dobinson. Robert H | 9 Yorkshire Regt. | 14.8.1917 | Long Row, Coxhoe |
| Earls. John J | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 24.5.1915 | Copes Buildings, Coxhoe |
| Earls. William | 4 Yorkshire Regt. | 24.5.1915 | Copes Buildings, Coxhoe |
| Edmonson. John R. | 1 N/land Fus. | 23.10.1918 | Foundry Row, Coxhoe |
| Fenton. Thomas | 2 K.O.S.B. | 13.10.1914 | Church Street, Coxhoe |
| Ferguson. Thomas | 3/5 Lancashire Fus. | 9.10.1917 | Co-operative Terr. Coxhoe |
| Forster. John G | 5 Yorkshire Regiment | 28.9.1916 | Front Row, Coxhoe |
| Garnett. Wilfred J | 8 East Yorkshire Reg. | 14.7.1916 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Glendinning. William | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 4.3.1917 | Co-operative Terr. Coxhoe |
| Gower. William | Royal Navy | 31.5.1916 | Basic House, Coxhoe |
| Graham. Thomas | 2 South Staffs Regt. | 28.9.1918 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Grint. Fred | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 26.3.1918 | Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe |
| Grint. Robert | 15 Durham Light Inf. | 23.10.1918 | Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe |
| Hall. Thomas G | 8 Durham Light Inf | 26.8.1918 | Clarence Villa, Coxhoe |
| Hallimand. John T | 1/5 Durham Light Inf | 24.5.1915 | Back Dale St. W. Cornforth |
| Hargreaves. Thomas W | 25 N/land Fus. T. Irish | 1.7.1916 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Harker. F E | Details Unkown | Any Details Please Contact Us | |
| Heron. John H | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 15.2.1916 | |
| Hedley. Thomas | 10 Yorkshire regt. | 12.7.1916 | Gladstone Terr. Coxhoe |
| Hillarby. Alfred | 11 Royal Fusiliers | 30.8.1918 | Basic Cottages, Coxhoe |
| Hobson. Robert W | 18 K.R.R. Corps | 28.3.1918 | Vicarage Terr. Coxhoe |
| Hodgson. George J. | 16 Durham Light Inf. | 10.5.1917 | Church Street, Coxhoe |
| Hopper. James | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 8.4.1919 | Victoria Terrace. Coxhoe |
| Hunter. Henry | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 16.6.1916 | Heugh Hall |
| Hutchinson. John | 14 Durham Light Inf. | 19.12.1915 | Stable Row, Cassop |
| Iseton. Albert E | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 27.5.1918 | Blackgate, Coxhoe |
| Jamieson. Alexander | 1 Cameron Highlanders | 22.7.1916 | Blackgate, Coxhoe |
| Jenkin. John | 13 Liverpool Regiment | 16.5.1917 | Born Coxhoe Bridge |
| Johnson. Allan | 13 Durham Light Inf. | 19.9.1916 | Prospect House, Coxhoe |
| Johnson. Joseph E | 2 Royal Fusiliers | 3.7.1916 | Coke Oven, Coxhoe |
| Keith. George MM | Royal Field Artillery | 13.9.1917 | Church Street, Coxhoe |
| Kirton. George | 1/5 K.O.R Lancasters | 26.9.1917 | Joint Stock Cottages, Coxhoe |
| Kitchingman. Parker | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 9.11.1915 | Joint Stock Cottages, Coxhoe |
| Langhorn. Sidney | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 7.8.1916 | |
| Layton. John R | 2 Machine Gun Corps | 31.10.1918 | |
| Lenney. Thomas M | 2 Durham Light Inf. | 21.3.1918 | Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe |
| Liddle. John | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 24.5.1915 | Prospect Place, Coxhoe |
| Lindsay. Robert W. | 1 Loyal Nth. Lancs | 26.9.1916 | Wylam Terrace, Coxhoe |
| McCallum. Alexander | 2 Border Reg. | 22.2 1916 | Cow Close, Coxhoe |
| McIlwain. William | 1 Grenadier Guards | 4.6.1915 | Coxhoe |
| McPherson. George | 15 Durham Light Inf. | 16.9.1916 | Coxhoe |
| Moyle. Thomas H | 14 Durham Light Inf. | 12.10.1916 | Coxhoe |
| Murray. Thomas | 11Durham Light Inf | 10.11.1915 | West Cornforth |
| Neasham. James | 88 Training Reserve | 19.2.1917 | Thrislington Hall Farm. |
| Newby. Frank | 2 Durham Light Inf | 26.6.1916 | Cassop Colliery |
| Ogden. Thomas | 6 Yorkshire Reg. | 15.9.1916 | |
| Ord. John Intin | 447 Coy R.E. | 27.5.1918 | Blackgate, Coxhoe |
| Parkin. Aaron | 13 Gloucestershire Reg | 30.6.1916 | Longstaffs Buildings, Coxhoe |
| Payton. Patrick | 24 N/land Fus. T. Irish | 1.7.1916 | |
| Peart. Joseph V MM | 1/3 Durham Light Inf. | 10.4.1918 | Gladstone Terrace, Coxhoe |
| Phillips. Charles | 29 Machine Gun Corps | 2.5.1918 | |
| Ramsay. William J | 52 Sqd R.F.C | 27.3.1918 | West Hetton Lodge, Coxhoe |
| Redden. John | 6m K.O.Y.L.I. | 16.9.1916 | Long Row, Coxhoe |
| Reed. William | 5 Seaforth Highlanders | 13.11.1916 | Blackgate, Coxhoe |
| Robinson. George | 1 West Yorkshire Reg. | 16.7.1918 | Cow Close, Coxhoe |
| Rowcroft. William | 8 East Yorkshire Reg | 26.9.1915 | Co-operative Terrace, Coxhoe |
| Roxby. Thomas H | 6 Wiltshire Reg. | 3.11.1918 | Front Street, Coxhoe |
| Salisbury. Walter | 5/6 Royal Scots | 26.8.1917 | Oddfellows Arms, Coxhoe |
| Scott. John A | 17 N/land Fusiliers | 2.11.1917 | Pond Street, Shincliffe |
| Seaton. Robert | Royal Garrison Artillery | 23.12.1916 | Quarrington Hill |
| Seeber. Martin J | 22 Durham Light Inf. | 27.10.1916 | West Parade, Coxhoe |
| Singleton. Edward | 10 Durham Light Inf | 31.7.1915 | Co-operative Terrace, Coxhoe |
| Stephenson. Fred | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 29.9.1915 | Durham Road, Bowburn |
| Thompson. Thomas | 6th Yorkshire Reg. | 27.9.1916 | Long Row, Coxhoe |
| Thubron. Robert | 8 East Yorkshire Reg | 13.11.1916 | Oxclose, Coxhoe |
| Turner. Arthur | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 5.11.1915 | Coxhoe |
| Turnbull. Charles T | Machine Gun Corps | 21.8.1918 | East House Farm, Coxhoe |
| Walker. William | 20 K.R.R.Corps | 14.7.1916 | Reading Room St. Q.Hill |
| Watson. Thomas | 1/5 Durham Light Inf. | 25.4.1915 | East Hetton Colliery,Kelloe |
| West. Anthony | 1/9 Durham Light Inf. | 1.10.1918 | St Helens, Kelloe |
| White. Charles G | Royal Field Artillery | 3.6.1918 | Coxhoe |
| Wilby. John B | 11 Royal Fusiliers | 21.9.1918 | Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe |
| Wilby. William | 14 Durham Light Inf | 27.9.1914 | Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe |
| Williams. Edward B B | 1/8 Durham Light Inf | 1.10.1918 | Grange Iron Works, Belmont |
| Winwood. Joseph | Royal Field Artillery | 23.9.1918 | Heugh Hall Row, Old Quarrington |
| Woodward. Frederick | 20 Durham Light Inf. | 16.9.1916 | Coxhoe Square |
| Young. James MM | 8 East Yorkshire Reg | 14.7.1916 | Gladstone Terrace, Coxhoe |
Coxhoe Local History Group 