North East War Memorials Project

NORTH EAST WAR MEMORIALS PROJECT

part of

THE NATIONAL INVENTORY OF WAR MEMORIALS

Contact address: Mrs. Janet Brown, Bilsdale, Ulgham, Morpeth, NE61 3AR

WEAR VALLEY DISTRICT

Place : St. HELEN’S:

Notes on names

Compiled by John and Mavis Dixon.

This memorial was investigated in more depth because of the difficulty of identifying the badges. That aspect of the investigations proved relatively simple – using military history research and military modelling research sources the badges were identified quite quickly. What proved more difficult was matching the casualties to the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The two RAF casualties and Ordinary Seaman Bowron were found immediately on searching the CWGC Register. Aircraftsman Hartley is said to be buried locally.

Elliot turned out to be Commander (E) Fogg-Elliot. The hyphenation of his name is not recorded on the memorial but is so recorded on the HMS Galatea Website, and on the Roll of Honour printed in The Times when the ship was sunk in December 1941.

Fusilier Hodgson is recorded on the Register as a member of the 50th (4th Battalion The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of the Reconnaissance Corps, and is buried in the Knightsbridge Cemetery in Libya. He is only recorded on the CWGC notes as “Arthur”, although his full name of Arthur Henry appears on the memorial. I identified him as his parents are shown on the commemoration record as being from Staindrop.

The remaining casualty – Percival Forrest – is shown on the memorial as a member of the Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, whereas the CWGC Register shows him as a sergeant, aged 25 at his death in 1943, in 158 Battery, 96 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. According to the record, he is also buried in Staindrop Cemetery, though we have not, as yet, been able to locate a headstone for him there. His parents are listed as being from Staindrop, though his wife came from Dundee.

At least two Battalions of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were converted to the Anti-Tank role – forming the 91st and 93rd Anti-Tank Regiments, Royal Artillery. A query has been raised with the A&S H Museum to identify whether another Battalion was similarly converted to create the 96th Regiment.

Permission to photocopy these notes is freely given. Permission to copy photographs is not given, as copyright rests with those who took them.