Category Archives: Military

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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 ofContinue reading “St Marys Church And The Great War Connections”

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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 ofContinue reading “Prisoners of War, Coxhoe Hall WW2”

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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, AndContinue reading “For Distinguished Conduct in the Field”

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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 thatContinue reading “The First of Ninety Seven”

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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 discoverContinue reading “Thiepval Memorial to the Missing”

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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.

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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.

(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group) 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 WarContinue reading “Brothers in Arms”

(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 andContinue reading “Coxhoe In The Wars”