Many young men joined the services before the war such as friends Albert Ninham, Robert Cox and Vince Gardiner then living at Ramshaw. 

Above: Albert Ninham, Robert Cox and Vince

To date, we have not heard of anyone younger than Ronnie Heaviside who volunteered when war was raging in 1943.  As an 18 year-old, he drove a landing craft onto the Normandy Beaches on D Day.  We don’t know the exact details but we believe that it was Gold Beach, the 2nd wave when the Allied assault was in full flow.  18 years old!  We use Ronnie as an example of the spirit of his generation, whether they were in the armed forces or worked at home. 

Above: Marine R. Heaviside

Many worked in reserved occupations such as farmers or coal miners or were conscripted to work in the pits as Bevin Boys, many joined the Home Guard, the ARP or were Special Constables. 

The women joined the Land Army and the Women’s Timber Corps to work on farms or forestry or worked at the Munitions Factory at Aycliffe or West Auckland Clothing Factory manufacturing uniforms or joined the ATS, some serving behind the lines. 

Families took in children, evacuees from the urban areas. 

Gas masks, identity cards, rationing and bombing [very little here] were part and parcel of life. 

All did their bit, many went beyond the call of duty, many were wounded or mentally scarred and suffered those wounds [physical or mental] for life and some paid the ultimate price. 

We have no idea what criteria was used to select those named on the Cenotaph in the cemetery.  There are 20 names.  5 men are buried in the cemetery and 4 are not inscribed on the cenotaph.  Maurice Peddelty is the one named on the Cenotaph.  He, Thomas Welsh, Henry Birch and George Raine have CWGC headstones marking their graves.  Percy Pattinson is buried in a family plot, neither having a CWGC headstone nor his name on the war memorial. 

The new war memorial at Newholme Crescent includes all the known military fatalities. 

There was a civilian casualty, 17 years old Jean Sanderson.  She was knocked down and killed by an Army vehicle while walking to work along the Cockfield road.  Perhaps her name should be included.

Above: Jean Sanderson 1924-1941

WE SALUTE THEM

LEST WE FORGET