Wearmouth Colliery Welfare Ground, Thompson Road, Southwick, Sunderland
YOUR HELP NEEDED
FOR THE RESTORATION OF MEMORIAL STONE
In a quiet part of Southwick, away from the hustle and bustle of daily
life, lies a memorial stone commemorating the sacrifice made by some of the men
who enlisted in the armed forces in the First World War. Unfortunately, in
recent times, the memorial stone has been broken and a fund raising initiative is now in progress to
replace the memorial stone.
The memorial names some 174 men from Wearmouth Colliery and, as can be read from the inscriptions, they gave exemplary service and some were highly decorated for their valiant efforts. Several men served in higher ranks, with two of them being Commissioned Officers. Whilst most of the men served in the Army, the Royal Navy was the chosen service of at least one of the men.
It should be appreciated that the list contains the names of the men who lost their lives in that war, and does not include the other men from the Colliery who served in the armed forces during that conflict.
Whilst Wearmouth Colliery was not within the district of Southwick, many of the men who worked there lived in Southwick and the names of many Southwick families can be seen on the memorial stone. Consequently, Southwick History And Preservation Society fully supports the appeal to raise the necessary funds to make good the damage. People wishing to donate to the Memorial Fund should send donations to Mr Michael Murphy, c/o Wearmouth Colliery Social Welfare Club, Thompson Road, Southwick, Sunderland, SR5 1SF.
The inscription on the memorial stone reads:
|
PRO PATRIA |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE MINERS OF WEARMOUTH COLLIERY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914 - 1919 |
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| Rank | Inits | Surname | Rank | Inits | Surname | Rank | Inits | Surname | Rank | Inits | Surname | Rank | Inits | Surname |
| SGT | J | ABBOTT | CPL | HS | COWIE | PTE | JT | HARRISON | CPL | W | McDONALD | PTE | J | SMART |
| CPL | A | ADAMS | L./CPL | GB | CROSBY | SIGNR | D | HARRISON | LIEUT | J | McCORMACK ITALIAN WAR MEDAL | PTE | JJ | SMITH |
| PTE | JR | ADAMSON | PTE | W | CUTHBERTSON | PTE | G | HARVEY | PTE | JW | McFARLANE | PTE | HS | SMITH |
| CPL | J | ALLEN | PTE | J | CUTTER | QMS | J | HERD | GNR | JW | McGORY | PTE | JJ | SMITH |
| PTE | W | ALLEN | CPL | S | CUTTING | PTE | P | HILL | PTE | J | McGILL | PTE | J | SMITH |
| PTE | A | ATKINSON | PTE | T | DAVIS | PTE | R | HIRD | PTE | AJ | McGOUGH | PTE | JW | SMITH |
| CPL | WE | ATKINSON | SGT | PA | DAVISON | PTE | R | HOCKRIDGE | CPL | J | McGREAVY | GNR | J | SOUTHERN |
| L/CPL | T | BAGGOTT | DRVR | H | DAVISON | PTE | J | HOLYOAK | PTE | J | McGUIRE | PTE | JS | SPENCE |
| L/CPL | C | BALL | L./CPL | WS | DERBY | PTE | J | HOGG | BOMR | GW | McMILLAN | CPL | JW | STOBART |
| PTE | W | BELL | SGT | T | DIXON M.M. | PTE | AE | HUGHES | PTE | R | McQUILLAN | PTE | R | STOKER |
| L/CPL | JW | BELL | PTE | G | DORWARD | PTE | C | HUGHES | PTE | GW | NICKLIN | STOKER (NAVY) | J | STOKER |
| L/CPL | G | BELL | PTE | W | DORWARD | PTE | F | HULL | PTE | M | NIGHTINGALE | PTE | J | STOREY |
| PTE | GF | BLAKE | PTE | G | DOYLE | PTE | JW | HUNTER | PTE | H | O'DONNOLL | PTE | R | STOTT |
| PTE | T | BOGGAN | SPR | D | DRYDEN | PTE | M | HUNTLEY | PTE | A | ORTON | PTE | W | STRONG |
| BOMBR | W | BOGGAN | DRVR | T | DUFFY | PTE | A | HODGSON | PTE | W | RAINE | GNR | JS | TAYLOR |
| PTE | G | BOGGAN | PTE | T | DUFFY | L/CPL | A | IRWIN | PTE | JW | REED | L/CPL | L | THORN |
| SIGNR | JF | BOYD | L./CPL | W | DYER | SGT | G | JACOBS D.C.M. | SGT | F | REEVES | CPL | G | TREVOR |
| PTE | W | BOYLE | L./CPL | J | ELLIOTT | PTE | F | JENNINGS | SGT | HJ | REYNOLDS | SPR | D | URWIN |
| PTE | E | BOWEN | PTE | R | FAIRBAIRN | PTE | W | JOHNSON | PTE | W | ROBERTS | SGT | H | VASEY |
| PTE | W | BUCKLEY | PTE | E | FARRELL | DRVR | LT | JONES | PTE | J | ROBINSON | CPL | C | WALTON |
| PTE | FW | BUNTON | PTE | N | FARROW | SGT | L | KIRTON | PTE | A | ROBINSON | PTE | JB | WATSON |
| PIONR | EB | BURDEN | L./CPL | JL | FERGUSON | PTE | T | KISBY | PTE | I | ROGERS | PTE | N | WEBSTER |
| DRVR | W | BURN | PTE | B | FINN | GNR | RW | KNOX | PTE | J | RODGERS | PTE | J | WEBSTER |
| DRVR | JW | BURNETT | CAPT | GKT | FISHER | PTE | M | LAWTHER | SGT | J | RUSHFORTH | PTE | R | WIGHAM |
| PTE | JM | BRODIE | DRVR | WT | FISHER | PTE | JJ | LAY | PTE | T | REAY | PTE | JY | WILKINSON |
| SGT | R | CAIN | PTE | JF | FLEMING | GNR | WE | LIDDLE | PTE | J | SANDERSON | GNR | GS | WILSON |
| CPL | R | CARRIGHAN M.M. | DRVR | J | FORSTER | PTE | RH | LODGE | SGT | W | SCOTT | GNR | P | WILSON |
| PTE | N | CARTWRIGHT | PTE | JR | FRANKLAND | CPL | A | MADDEN | PTE | J | SCOTT | PTE | T | WINTER |
| PTE | J | CHISHOLM | PTE | A | GETTINGS | PTE | T | MALABURN | PTE | A | SCOTT | PTE | J | WOODWARD |
| SPR | JH | CHILD | PTE | WH | GODFREY | PTE | PG | MEARNS | GNR | G | SCOTT | PTE | J | WRIGHT |
| PTE | G | CLARK | PTE | R | GORDON | CPL | JW | MILBURN | SGT | A | SCOTT M.M. | PTE | RG | WRIGHTSON |
| PTE | R | COCKBURN | PTE | F | GRADY | PTE | C | MILLER | DVR | M | SHERIDAN | CPL | A | YOUERN |
| PTE | E | COLLINS | PTE | J | GRIEVESON | PTE | J | MOORE | DVR | F | SHERIDAN | PTE | W | YOUERN |
| PTE | W | CONNOLLY | BOMBR | M | GLANCY M.M. | PTE | R | MURRAY | L/CPL | R | SHIELD | PTE | J | YOUNG |
| PTE | J | COWIE | PTE | J | HALL | PTE | E | BROWNING | L/CPL | J | YOUNG | |||
The column headers, such as Rank, Inits, Surname, are not included on the stone but have been added here for ease of identification. Also, due to the crack across the stone, the initial of SPR URWIN is presumed to be D, and efforts are being made to authenticate that is the case (if you are a relative and can verify the information, please contact us and this page will be corrected).
The actual damage to the memorial stone can be seen in this photograph:

We hope that you can support this worthy cause.
The Table below contains the names of some of the men listed on the memorial stone.
By clicking on the name, a link has been established to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site.
The key to the colour coding of the names is that those who's name is in Black have a likely link, but not necessarily the right link. Those in Green have a high probability of being the right link, whereas the two names in Red are both Southwick men and, as yet, the link to the exact person is still unclear.
| Surname | Rank | Service Number | Date Of Death | Age | Regiment/Service |
| ABBOTT, JOSEPH | Serjeant | 25/56 | 28/04/1917 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| ADAMS, A | Corporal | 15530 | 14/12/1915 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| ADAMSON, JOHN R. | Private | 18/661 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| ALLEN, J | Corporal | CH/8575 | 12/07/1915 | Unknown | Royal Marine Light Infantry |
| ALLEN, WILLIAM | Private | 30111 | 26/03/1918 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| ATKINSON, A | Private | Jul-68 | 28/10/1916 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| BAGGOTT, THOMAS | Lance Corporal | 18/686 | 02/07/1916 | 38 | Durham Light Infantry |
| BALL, C | Lance Corporal | 15686 | 18/02/1917 | 26 | Yorkshire Regiment |
| BELL, J W | Lance Corporal | 33501 | 31/01/1917 | Unknown | Yorkshire Regiment |
| BLAKE, G F | Private | Jul-92 | 20/01/1915 | 23 | Durham Light Infantry |
| BOYD, JOHN FRANCIS | Private | 27/802 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| BOYLE, W | Private | 13141 | 21/05/1918 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| BUNTON, FREDRICK WILLIAM | Private | 19184 | 19/09/1916 | 19 | West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) |
| BURNETT, JOHN WILLIAM | Driver | 84235 | 07/04/1918 | 25 | Royal Field Artillery |
| CARTWRIGHT, N | Private | 20/1260 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| CHISHOLM, J | Private | 12706 | 12/10/1915 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| CHILDS, JOHN HARKER | Sapper | 47184 | 05/05/1916 | 22 | Royal Engineers |
| COCKBURN, ROBERT SHIELDS | Private | 41396 | 05/01/1918 | 19 | Lincolnshire Regiment |
| CONNOLLY, W | Private | 27/132 | 07/10/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| COWIE, HENRY STEPHENSON | Corporal | 15752 | 26/09/1915 | 18 | Durham Light Infantry |
| CROSBY, G | Lance Corporal | 6049 | 21/12/1916 | 18 | York and Lancaster Regiment |
| CUTTER, J | Private | 27092 | 13/08/1917 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| CUTTING, SAMUEL | Corporal | 36187 | 22/10/1918 | 34 | Royal Field Artillery |
| DAVIS, T | Private | Jul-64 | 08/01/1916 | 20 | Durham Light Infantry |
| DAVISON, H | Driver | 72517 | 12/01/1919 | 32 | Royal Field Artillery |
| DERBY, WILLIAM STANLEY | Lance Corporal | 22/848 | 23/04/1917 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| DORWARD, G | Private | 21/1342 | 28/06/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| DORWARD, WALLACE | Private | 21/1343 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| DOYLE, GEORGE WILLIAM | Private | 42587 | 22/02/1918 | 21 | Durham Light Infantry |
| DUFFY, THOMAS | Driver | 53494 | 14/10/1918 | 22 | Royal Engineers |
| DUFFY, THOMAS | Private | 24/701 | 28/04/1917 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| FARRELL, EDWARD | Private | 15481 | 01/07/1916 | 23 | East Yorkshire Regiment |
| FERGUSON, JOSEPH LITTLE | Private | 42682 | 11/04/1918 | 19 | Durham Light Infantry |
| FISHER, G K T | Captain | 03/09/1917 | 38 | Norfolk Regiment | |
| FISHER, WILLIAM THOMAS | Driver | 85650 | 28/03/1918 | 30 | Royal Field Artillery |
| FLEMING, JONATHAN FREDERICK | Rifleman | C/650 | 30/03/1916 | 20 | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| GETTINGS, A | Private | 27/958 | 28/12/1917 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| GODFREY, WILLIAM H. | Private | 22713 | 09/08/1915 | 22 | Durham Light Infantry |
| GRIEVESON, J | Private | 24659 | 18/07/1917 | 45 | Royal Army Medical Corps |
| GLANCY, MARK | Bombardier | 7357 | 19/02/1919 | 22 | Royal Field Artillery |
| HALL, J | Private | 38585 | 27/04/1917 | 27 | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| HARRISON, JOHN T. | Lance Corporal | 20/475 | 30/09/1916 | 26 | Durham Light Infantry |
| HERD, JOHN | Quartermaster Serjeant | 891 | 05/12/1917 | 50 | Royal Army Ordnance Corps |
| HIRD, ROBERT | Private | 57790 | 31/07/1917 | 28 | The King's (Liverpool Regiment) |
| HOCKRIDGE, RICHARD | Private | 20/171 | 25/03/1918 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| HOLYOAK, J | Private | 23/1321 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| HUNTLEY, MEYNELL MARRINGTON | Private | 46937 | 21/03/1918 | 19 | Leicestershire Regiment |
| IRWIN, A | Corporal | 20739 | 09/04/1917 | 25 | Durham Light Infantry |
| JACOBS, GEORGE | Serjeant | 39928 | 10/10/1916 | 27 | Royal Army Medical Corps |
| KIRTON, ROBERT | Serjeant | 15618 | 18/09/1916 | 22 | Durham Light Infantry |
| KISBY, T | Private | 9061 | 15/06/1915 | Unknown | Yorkshire Regiment |
| KNOX, ROBERT WILLIAM | Gunner | 50776 | 21/03/1918 | Unknown | Royal Garrison Artillery |
| LAY, JAMES JOSHUA | Private | 10037 | 18/07/1916 | 32 | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| LAY, JOSEPH JAMES | Private | 75890 | 27/05/1918 | 18 | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| LIDDELL, WILLIAM ERNEST | Gunner | 89404 | 06/04/1919 | 28 | Royal Field Artillery |
| LODGE, R H | Private | 34562 | 10/04/1917 | 20 | King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry |
| MADDEN, ALFRED | Lance Corporal | 22/1345 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| MEARNS, PERCY GRAHAM | Private | 12250 | 28/01/1916 | 21 | Durham Light Infantry |
| MILLER, CHARLES | Private | 24969 | 31/01/1917 | 35 | Durham Light Infantry |
| BROWNING, EDWARD | Private | 42620 | 16/09/1916 | 20 | Durham Light Infantry |
| McGILL, JAMES | Private | 23/1382 | 01/07/1916 | 40 | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| McGUIRE, JAMES | Private | Apr-95 | 09/08/1915 | 35 | Durham Light Infantry |
| McMILLAN, GEORGE WILLIAM | Bombardier | 47573 | 03/10/1918 | 33 | Royal Garrison Artillery |
| McQUILLAN, RICHARD | Private | 27/1107 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| NICKLIN, WILLIAM | Private | 15797 | 27/09/1915 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| NIGHTINGALE, MATTHEW | Private | 24/556 | 08/09/1916 | 32 | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| RAINE, WILTON | Private | 39270 | 09/04/1917 | 19 | Durham Light Infantry |
| REED, JOHN WILLIAM | Private | 242120 | 26/10/1917 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| REYNOLDS, H J | Serjeant | 25/1251 | 27/01/1918 | 23 | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| RODGERS, JAMES | Private | 21456 | 03/05/1917 | 20 | West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) |
| RUSHFORTH, J | Serjeant | 11487 | 07/01/1915 | 36 | Durham Light Infantry |
| SCOTT, JOHN | Private | 14440 | 08/10/1916 | 37 | Durham Light Infantry |
| SCOTT, G | Gunner | 84718 | 10/04/1917 | 32 | Royal Field Artillery |
| SCOTT, A | Serjeant | T/337185 | 11/08/1918 | 28 | Royal Garrison Artillery |
| SHIELD, ROBERT | Lance Corporal | 19359 | 11/01/1918 | Unknown | Gloucestershire Regiment |
| SMITH, JOHN J. | Private | 15473 | 27/09/1915 | 24 | Durham Light Infantry |
| SMITH, HAROLD STUART | Private | 26974 | 27/09/1915 | 22 | Durham Light Infantry |
| SMITH, J W | Private | 22/1268 | 25/11/1919 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| SOUTHERN, JAMES EDWARD | Gunner | 52498 | 06/11/1918 | 24 | Royal Garrison Artillery |
| SPENCE, J S | Private | 38443 | 26/09/1916 | 20 | Durham Light Infantry |
| STOBBART, J W | Corporal | L/12459 | 07/06/1917 | 33 | Royal Field Artillery |
| STOKER, RALPH | Private | 2933 | 26/05/1915 | 39 | Durham Light Infantry |
| STOKER, J | Stoker 1st Class | K/43302 | 25/09/1918 | 20 | Royal Navy |
| STOREY, JOHN | Private | 22394 | 13/04/1917 | 20 | Durham Light Infantry |
| STOTT, R | Private | 15144 | 15/04/1917 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| TAYLOR, JAMES SOMOETT | Gunner | L/11537 | 09/04/1918 | Unknown | Royal Field Artillery |
| THORN, LAWRENCE | Lance Corporal | 12894 | 10/07/1916 | Unknown | Yorkshire Regiment |
| TREVOR, GEORGE | Lance Corporal | 10917 | 09/09/1916 | 29 | Yorkshire Regiment |
| URWIN, J D | Sapper | 459300 | 27/09/1918 | 29 | Royal Engineers |
| VASEY, THOMAS H. | Serjeant | 300264 | 15/10/1917 | 20 | Durham Light Infantry |
| WATSON, J B | Private | 40396 | 04/06/1918 | Unknown | Durham Light Infantry |
| WEBSTER, NICHOLSON | Private | 20/813 | 22/08/1917 | 21 | Durham Light Infantry |
| WIGHAM, R | Private | 57851 | 09/04/1917 | Unknown | The King's (Liverpool Regiment) |
| WILSON, PARKER | Gunner | 760799 | 30/11/1917 | 21 | Royal Field Artillery |
| WINTER, THOMAS HENRY | Private | 18164 | 23/07/1916 | 30 | West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) |
| WOODWARD, J | Private | 20030 | 07/12/1915 | 44 | Durham Light Infantry |
| WRIGHT, J | Private | 201331 | 18/09/1918 | 32 | Durham Light Infantry |
| WRIGHTSON, RALPH G. | Private | 22479 | 07/06/1917 | 33 | Durham Light Infantry |
| YOUERN, ARTHUR | Corporal | 22/1294 | 01/07/1916 | Unknown | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| YOUERN, WILLIAM | Private | 95460 | 06/10/1918 | 29 | Durham Light Infantry |
| YOUNG, JOHN | Private | 2540 | 26/05/1915 | 21 | Durham Light Infantry |
| YOUNG, JOSEPH | Private | Mar-06 | 15/06/1915 | 39 | Yorkshire Regiment |