Memorial details

Memorial type
Serviceman / Servicewoman
District
Wear Valley
Town
Tow Law
County
Durham
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 10 September 1921
    Attended by: Lieut Colonel Nicholson
  • Dedicated
    Date: 10 September 1921
    Attended by: Revd T H Espin
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
10415

Support IWM

Donate with Just Giving

Any gift we receive makes a vital contribution to our ongoing work, from conserving our collection to supporting our public programme.

Make a Donation
Current location

junction of High Street and Wolsingham Road
Tow Law
Wear Valley
Durham
DL13 4EB
England

OS Grid Ref: NZ 11942 38616
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Italian Marble Statue of soldier standing with rifle at the ready. He is on a tall square pedestal with columns at each corner. Below the statue are sunken panels which bear the dates on two sides in raised letters and the words “For Country” on the front and back. The main pedestal stands on two steps. These in turn rest on two more steps with a low iron railing round. The names are carried in a single column on the sides of the plinth. The lettering is incised and leaded using sans serif capitals. Also a 'Souvenir Booklet' was produced for WW2 for Tow Law, Satley and Thornley. As this was produced in quantity it does not classify as a memorial in its own right for IWM purposes but is an important record of the WW2 service of 474 men from these three villages- containing many photographs; the names, ranks, regiments and honours of both those who fell and those who served and returned. See the 3 NEWMP reports listed under 'References' for a full transcript, history and photographic record of this booklet (this local project does treat this as a memorial).
Inscription
For Country / For Country / 1914 / 1919 / Erected / By the inhabitants of / Tow Law, Thornley, / Sunniside, Hedley Hope, / East Hedley Hope / and Satley. / To the sacred memory / of those gallant men / who, at the call of king / and country, left all that / was dear to them, and after / enduring hardships and / facing danger in the Great / European War 1914-1919 / passed among their / comrades by the path of / duty and self sacrifice / giving their own lives / that we might live in / freedom. / Greater love hath no man than this, that / a man lay down his life for his friends/[names] 1939-1945/[names]
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Agar, J R
Agar, N R
Allan, C D
Armstrong, D
Armstrong, W
Bainbridge, J T
Barker, W
Bates, N
Bell, C
Boal, W
See details for all 146 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 113
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 113
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,rank, initials of forenames
    Order of information: surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 34
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 34
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,rank, initials of forenames
    Order of information: surname
Components
  • Memorial
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Marble - Italian
Listing information
  • WAR MEMORIAL
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
The original statue had a bayonet fixed to the rifle. This was broken, probably vandalised, c.early 1960s. The broken remnant was removed and the rifle reground. The bayonet is visible in early photos. Repair work has been done (2009) when the bayonet was replaced
Costs

Comments: A special address was given by Rev. Humphreys, Vicar of Thornley, who lost three sons in the War. The original statue had a bayonet fixed to the rifle. This was broken, probably vandalised, c.early 1960s. The broken remnant was removed and the rifle reground. The bayonet is visible in early photos. Repair work has been done (2009) when the bayonet was replaced The proposal for a war memorial was first mooted by Cllr. Atkinson 11/1/1918. The memorial featured on the front of the local calendar for 2007. Mr. W.H. Charlton, agent for Messrs. Samuelson’s, was asked to speak at the unveiling. His son, Lieut.Col. B.S. Charlton, had been killed and his name was on the memorial. One of those named went down on the Lusitania.
Memorial: £600

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
The memorial was formally handed over to the Urban District Council at the unveiling ceremony
Reference
  • ID 407900
  • WW2 Souvenir Booklet Pages 39 to 50: www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11114
  • WW2 Souvenir Booklet Pages 19 to 38: www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11113
  • WW2 Souvenir Booklet Pages 1 to 18: www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=9074
  • Darlington & Stockton Times (North) 17/9/1921 reports unveiling
  • Auckland and County Chronicle 15/9/1921 reports unveiling
  • Stanley News 15/9/1921 reports unveiling
  • Illustrated Chronicle 22/9/1923 carries photos of “highest memorial in the district”
  • Tow Law Town Council Minutes2009 P.7 169/09 Clerk's Report that the bayonet had been fixed onto the statue on 5th Nov. 2009 prior to the Remembrance Day Service
  • Memoirs of Tow Law by Mr Newrick Grant; produced by Tow Law Local History Group
  • Minute Books of the Tow Law Board and Urban District Council (Ref. UD/TL 5 and 6)
  • In Durham County Archives booklet (Ref. A12/11 p40) of photos of Tow Law history showing procession going through Dan’s Castle on its way to the unveiling
  • Durham County Advertiser 16/9/1921 carries brief report of unveiling
  • www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=9066North East War Memorials Project -

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-10415

For queries, please contact [email protected].