Skip to main content

    War MemorialsRegister

    • Home
    • Search Memorials
    • Search Names
    • Help
    Imperial War Museums LogoImperial War Museums home
    • About
      • About us
      • Submit a photograph
      • Volunteering
    • Legal
      • Accessibility Statement
      • Cookies
      • Copyright
      • Privacy
      • Terms of use

    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Shotton Colliery

    Shotton Colliery Cenotaph Original Plaque

    Source: Copyright Andrew Hardwick

    1/3

    Current Location

    Station Road at the corner of Front Street, Shotton Colliery, Easington, Durham, DH6 2LT, England

    OS Grid Reference

    NZ 39499 41098

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

    Contribute to the War Memorials Register

    Send us details and photographs of your local war memorials, to help enhance the information about the people, places and events they commemorate.

    Contribute now

    This record shows everything IWM currently knows about this memorial. We are continually updating our records.

    © WMR-10283

    To share information or photographs, contact us.

    Type of Memorial
    Serviceman / Servicewoman
    WMR Reference Number
    10283
    Description
    Soldier statue on 6 foot high pedestal, resting on four steps, total height 15 feet. The soldier is standing resting on his rifle, and wears the badge of the Durham Light Infantry. The inscriptions are carried on two bronze plates fixed to the front and side of the pedestal. Each has a narrow raised edge. Names are listed in two columns on each. Lettering is in raised Roman capitals throughout. The whole is set within a rectangular garden with wrought iron fence on a dwarf stone wall and gates. The garden is paved and planted with trees and rose bushes. At the back of the site is an open-fronted shelter with seats. Another plaque has been erected to mark the rededication in 2007 and also contains a Roll of Honour bearing one name from Borneo, 1966. The lettering has been incised into the plain slab, using Roman capitals, lower case and italics.
    Inscription
    FRONT FACE: ERECTED 1920/ BY THE PARISHIONERS AND/ FEDERATED WORKMEN OF/ SHOTTON COLLIERY/ TO THE MEMORY OF THE 152 MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ ALSO/ TO THE MEMORY OF THE 38 PERSONS/ WHO WERE KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION/ IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR/ 1939 - 1945/ "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS." IN RECOGNITION FO TEH MEMORIAL IMPROVEMENTS / AND THE OFFICIAL REDEDICATION AND UNVEILING OF / THE ROLL OF HONOUR FOR SHOTTON WAR MEMORIAL / 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2007. THE STONES ARE IN OWS, IN LAND THEY WERE GIVEN, / ALL HAD LAIN AS ONE, FOR 60 YEARS OR MORE. / BLOOD AND TEARS HAVE GROWN THE LANDS UNTIL ONLY MEMORIES REMAIN. / THEIR DEEDS ARE READ AS HERO'S. / ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN THEN GIVE NOW OUR LIVES A PURPOSE. / WE REMEMBER. / ALL MUST NOT GORGET, THE TOTAL SACRIFICE THEY GAVE FOR US. / SO IN OUR RETURN WE MUST PLAY OUR PART / ALWAYS REMEMBER, OUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS. / UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. ROLL OF HONOUR- / (Name) BORNEO 1966 Other Faces: (Names)
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    152
    Died
    152
    Information shown
    surname, initials of forenames, rank
    Order of names
    surname
    War
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Number Commemorated
    32
    Died
    32
    Information shown
    surname, initials of forenames, rank
    Order of names
    surname
    War
    Second World War - civilians
    Number Commemorated
    6
    Died
    6
    Information shown
    forename initial and surname
    War
    Indonesian Confrontation (1963-1966)
    Number Commemorated
    1
    Died
    1
    Information shown
    Rank, firstname, surname, unit, location, year
    Maker(s)
    • Messrs. Jenkins and Sons, Torquay., Makers

    Costs
    £670
    Sponsor Type
    other
    Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information
    Levy on workmen of Shotton Colliery. Site purchased by Parish Council. Garden laid out by Horden Collieries Ltd.
    Maintenance History
    Restored 2007

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    3 Sep 1921

    Lt.Col. J.M. Longden, D.L.I. of Castle Eden

    Dedicated

    3 Sep 1921

    Rev. W.V.E. Parsons.

    Unveiled

    Nov 1947

    The new 1914-18 plaques were unveiled by Mr. J. Bolton; those for 1939-45 were unveiled by Cllr. J. Atkinson, Chairman, Shotton Parish Council.

    Rededicated

    Nov 1947

    Rev. G. Beckwith, Vicar

    Rededicated

    25 Feb 2007

    Components

    Memorial

    Made from: Stone - Portland


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1323086

    • Northern Echo30/8/1921 reports proposed unveiling; 30/12/2006 reports unsuccessful campaign by Thomas Griffiths brothers to have his body brought home, and their efforts to have his name added to the war memorial; 26/02/07 reports rededication with photos of the event and of Pte. Thomas Griffiths;
    • Durham Chronicle 14/11/1947 reports unveiling
    • http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8608