William McNally VC

Sergeant William McNally's Victoria Cross paving stone, image courtesy of John Attle

Saturday 27 October 2018 will see Murton honouring its Victoria Cross hero, Sergeant William McNally, just as they did 100 years ago. A commemorative paving stone will be unveiled on Murton village green, with villagers, veterans, servicemen and women, local dignitaries and members of McNally's family coming together to pay tribute.

The ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph at 11am on Saturday, 27 October, and will be followed by a free exhibition about McNally at the Glebe Centre on Sunday, 28 October, and Monday, 29 October, from 10am to 4pm. Murton Parish Council have led and funded the project, with support from Murton Heritage Society, Murton Welfare Association and East Durham Area Action Partnership. 

On 27 December 1918, the Newcastle Journal ran an article describing the ‘enthusiastic reception’ given by Murton to Sergeant William McNally as he was on leave before visiting Buckingham Palace to receive his Victoria Cross from the King.

“The entire population turning out to do him honour. Murton is very proud of her soldier sons, and not without just reason, for 1300 local lads have joined the colours during the war. Of these, nearly 200 have paid the supreme sacrifice, and 40 distinctions have been won in the field, including a VC, DCMs, and other honours. 

Sergeant McNally who is 24 years of age, was born at Murton, and previous to enlisting was a putter at the colliery, being esteemed by his employers and fellow workmen alike. On September 3 1914, he enlisted in the 8th Yorkshire Regiment, and in October 1916, he was awarded the Military Medal, shortly afterwards receiving a bar to the medal. 

Sergeant McNally being driven by ES Wood, colliery manager. People Past and Present Archive (murt0065)

The gallant soldier was met by several prominent gentlemen, including Mr ES Wood who drove him in his motor car. Soon after three o’clock the procession started from the Village green, East Murton, gay with bunting, to the hero’s home at 11 Shepherdson Street. In the procession, which was headed by the Murton Prize Band, were representatives of the Miners’ Association and other local bodies. 

Later there was a crowded meeting at the Miners’ Hall to make a presentation. The Reverend GW Anson Firth presided, and in an appropriate speech heartily welcomed Sergeant McNally. 

Mr ES Wood, on behalf of the inhabitants, presented the sergeant with a gold watch and chain, and on behalf of Mr and Mrs JS Escott a silver cigarette case, and on behalf of himself, a beautiful gold pendant for his chain. In doing so, he related the deeds which won for the sergeant the coveted distinction...

Sergeant McNally, VC acknowledging the gifts, said that he had only done his duty the same as any other British soldier would have done.

The inhabitants of Murton intend to make a public testimonial to the hero worthy of the deed. The miners have already headed the subscription list with a sum of £100, and the South Hetton Coal Company and Mr WO Wood have generously contributed to the fund”. 

McNally’s was the last Victoria Cross to be awarded to a soldier from County Durham for actions in the First World War. You can read more about the event on Saturday on the Durham County Council press release, and about Sergeant McNally’s actions on Durham at War. 

Imperial War Museum, London

Weeping Window, Imperial War Museum, London, (V Oxberry)

On Wednesday 17 October, I visited the Imperial War Museum in London which has the Weeping Window poppies on display. This forms a nice bookend to the centenary period for me, having seen Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London in 2014. It was very evocative to have the poppies pouring from a small window in the tower, as though from a puncture wound. 

Weeping Window, Imperial War Museum, London, (V Oxberry)

Aside from the permanent First World War gallery, the IWM has several special exhibits commemorating the war, its end, and its aftermath. From a sound and video installations, to photographic evidence of the different nationalities returning home, and lands still in conflict. You can find out more on their website.

Living with the Peace

D/DLI 7/773/2 First page of the sketchbook belonging to Captain Henry Wilkinson, 1918

Durham Cathedral has a new exhibition called Armistice: Living with the Peace on display in the The Collections Gallery, Open Treasure. It is open now and runs until 2 February 1919, and is included in the entrance to Open Treasure. 

Durham County Record Office has loaned the diary and sketchbook of Captain Henry Wilkinson of the Durham Light Infantry who spent the end of the war in a prisoner of war camp in northern Germany. You can read his story on Durham at War. 

There But Not There, Durham Cathedral

In the cathedral itself, seated in the pews and in the DLI Chapel, are transparent silhouettes, part of 'There But Not There', a nationwide commemorative installation to remember those who never returned home from the First World War. These will be on display until 13 November 2018. We hope to have one of our life size Durham at War Tommies joining the cathedral display for Remembrance Day.

© Durham County Council

Conference round up

Friday, 28 September, saw the Durham at War team not only in final preparations for the 2018 conference taking place the next day, but also hosting 80 school pupils for a mini conference. The students, from five schools across the county, had either just begun GCSE history or were interested in taking it next year. 

It begun with historian Andy Robertshaw giving a talk called ‘Mud, blood, and bandages’, about medicine during the First World War, and its impact on medicine today. Looking around the Council Chamber, the students were scribbling away making notes. They also asked some interesting questions of Andy after his talk. The second part of the afternoon was run by Durham at War (Jo) and Gabrielle Reddington, Durham County Council Secondary School advisor. It was a workshop that explained and gave examples of different types of historical sources, how to use them, aimed specially to help students and their teachers answer a GCSE history exam question.

And then Saturday was upon us.

Poppy Bake Off entries

It was an absolutely fantastic day. The Durham Room was filled with stalls and displays from community groups which attendees were able to browse over a cuppa before the talks got underway. There was also the drop off point for the wonderful Poppy Bake Off entries. Our resident volunteer balloon modeller was also on form with bouquets of balloon poppies.

Councillor John Lethbridge, Chairman of Durham County Council and Mayor of Durham, opened the conference with some kind and impassioned words about the Record Office. This was followed by a welcome from the Durham at War team and Sarah Sproates from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The first talk of the day was by Steve Shannon, revealing the process of identifying the remains of a body found near Zonnebeke, Belgium, in 2014. Steve’s work led to the official burial and marking with a Commonwealth War Graves headstone, of Private Thomas Edmundson, 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Steve then handed over to Jim Busby, joining us for a third time from Winnipeg, Canada. Jim’s story started at the other end to Steve’s, he had a name, Andrew Rosmus, but no grave location. Jim’s work led him to locating Rosmus’ final resting place, as yet unmarked. He has submitted his evidence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is currently waiting for a decision.

Tucking into the bakes

Tea break, and time to judge the Poppy Bake Off. During the first talks, Record Office staff were busy prepping the wonderful cakes for sampling. I knew it was successful as there was barely any left by the time I got there! But it was great to see everybody tucking in and casting their vote.

Andy Robertshaw returned from the previous day to be our keynote speaker, this time giving us a thought provoking talk on the end of the war. One point he made that has stuck with me is that we sometimes forget, when we are looking back at war at the things that happened and the decisions that were made, that we have the benefit of seeing the whole picture. Those men didn’t know what was coming next, didn’t always know what the enemy had planned.

Next, it was my turn to talk about Colonel Morant and 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, and Margaret Eason to talk about her research into officers of the battalion. Margaret, who wrote the blog’s Very British Romance series, overcame a case of nerves, as she stood up and talked with great passion and humour about some of the men whose stories she has told on the Durham at War website.

Evenwood, Ramshaw, and District Local History Society told us about the making of their film ‘In the Pink’, which is available now on DVD with accompanying book. Their website also lists upcoming screenings.

The film was made with Crackin’ Toast, and director Rosie Anderson talked about their involvement. Then she sent us off for lunch in tears from singing the beautiful song she wrote about Sally Smith, wife of Private Fred Smith.

George Muirhead talking about Adolphus Hudleston Williamson

After a delicious lunch, we began the afternoon session by revealing the winners of the Poppy Bake Off. There was a three way tie for second place (luckily, due to an ordering error we had enough prizes). Margaret Eason, Clare Singleton, and Jean Longstaff each won a poppy china mug designed by Susan Rose for the Royal British Legion. In first place was Wolsingham School, who won a poppy mug and a signed copy of Andy Robertshaw’s book ‘Feeding Tommy: Battlefield Recipes for the First World War’. I think it’s lovely that the book will be put into the school library.

Paul Frodsham, archaeologist with Oracle Heritage Services, was our first afternoon speaker, telling us about Lidar and giving us some of the results from the latest Durham at War Lidar project. He emphasised how these results show how important it is to preserve our First World War heritage, as so much physical evidence has already been lost.

Next, Mel Brown and Fiona Johnson revealed some hidden histories to us. Mel told us about the impact of the war on children in the county, and steps that were taken to protect them. Fiona gave us the stories of two formidable women she had found. 

John Banham of Tudhoe and Spennymoor Local History Society introduced us to their film ‘Behind the Lines’ about nurse Kate Maxey who received the Military Medal. The premiere of the film takes place later this month, and will be available to watch on YouTube from 22 October.

Volunteers with the DLI Collection told us about the work they do at Sevenhills, then onto George Muirhead’s talk. George spoke about the wonderfully named Adolphus Hudleston Williamson, son of a Whitburn baronet, who served as a captain with the Royal Navy during the war. 

Lastly we had John Sheen who has given the project huge support over the years, through the loan of his photograph collection, his knowledge, and chocolate from his trips to Belgium. Being involved in the project helped inspire John to pursue a Masters degree in Britain and the First World War. In his talk, John took us through the research he has been doing for his dissertation. Looking at the men of the 8th and 9th Battalions of the Green Howards that passed through a casualty clearing station due to their attack and capture of Contalmaison on 10 July 1916, he has built up a picture of the backgrounds of the men, including finding that the majority were from Durham and Teesside. 

With no time for an open session, County Archivist Liz Bregazzi gave some closing remarks, and that was the conference. To toot our own horns for a moment, we have received fantastic feedback from the people attending, and it is always heartening to know that people have really got something from the day.

It is important to say that while this was the final Durham at War conference, it is not the end of the project, we will still be here for a little while longer yet. 

Margaret's balloon poppies