Durham County Advertiser 07 MAY 1920

Chester-le-Street Chronicle and District Advertiser, published Friday 08 September 1922 (page 6), reported: 'MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT WITTON GILBERT. In the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends of the fallen, Lt.-Col. J. R. Ritson, T.S., of Sniperley Hall, Durham, unveiled Witton Gilbert War Memorial last Saturday. Erected in the Graham Memorial Park, Witton Dene, the monument takes the form of a cross standing on an octagonal base, and reaches to a height of 23 feet. It is surmounted by the cross of St. Cuthbert, and bears the inscription: "Witton Gilbert War Memorial. Roll of Honour of Local Heroes who died for their King and Country during the Great War. For Righteousness. God grant them everlasting rest." Lieut.-Col. Ritson, unveiling the memorial, said that 222 men joined up from the village of Witton Gilbert, and of these 43 made the supreme sacrifice. The memorial was dedicated by the Rev. W. A. Elder, curate of Witton Gilbert and the Rev. W. W. D. Firth, vicar of Esh; the Rev. Father Downey, of St. Bede's, Sacriston; the Rev. W. Nicholson, Durham; Mr. John Graham DL., Findon Cottage, Durham: and Councillor T.F. Brass, OBE, J.P., among others, delivered addresses. Among those present in addition were Lieut.-Col. W. H. Ritson, CMG. V.D., Major C. Vaux, Mr. A. T. Shepherd, Capt. L. Shepherd, and representatives of a large number of parish and district organisations'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002932/19220908/072/0006

North East War Memorial Project website https://www.newmp.org.uk/memorial/cross-1914-18-1939-45-witton-dene-w123-01/

Historic England website: "Witton Gilbert War Memorial." https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1467964. Accessed 31 August 2024.