VOLUNTEERS have restored graves and memorials at Eston Cemetery after researching the stories of the real people behind the names.
Most of the graves memorialise people who died in the First and Second World Wars and Chair of the Friends of Eston Cemetery Vince Smith and his colleagues have been finding out more about them.
One of the graves restored is that of William Short who was awarded the Victoria Cross and whose anniversary is this week.
The Eston volunteers worked with experts from The Victoria Cross Trust (VCT) to complete the work. The VCT team has been able to conduct the more specialist masonry and cleaning work and the volunteers, who have been supported by the council, relatives and a local business, speeded the process up with tidying up around the graves.
Vince Smith, who explained some funding came from a relative of Private Harry Chilton Merryweather who was a soldier working on a farm near Hawes before the First World War before being killed serving in the West Yorkshire Regiment in October, 1917, aged 24.
Mr Smith added that among the memorials and graves being restored were those of Victoria Cross and Military Medal winners.
They included those of military servicemen William E.Charlton, Herbert Lightfoot M.M, John S.Smith, Vyvyan C. Thompson, Samuel Lane, Frank A.Dickenson, John Waugh, William Boyd Richardson, Arthur W Wilkinson, Thomas Wilfred Watson, Thomas, Henry James and Frederick Mortlock, Stephen H Cork, James W Bartram and Robert Caney.
Still more work has taken place on the Grade II-listed Evans Memorial to Jane Evans, the wife of David Evans, General Manager of Bolckow & Vaughan Co. Mrs Evans was a known local philanthropist who once paid for two Celebration Teas for 3,400 children on the occasion of her daughter’s marriage.
Mr Smith said: “These are just some of the stories of these incredible people. It is our honour to remember them.”
Here are the stories of just a few of the people behind the names:
William Short VC. Private Short, who was born on William Street in Eston later moving to Grangetown, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry. The soldier, who had nine brothers and sisters and was a keen footballer (the only photograph of him was taken from the Lazenby football team), worked at Grangetown Iron and Steel Works before the First World War. Sometimes known as “Twiggy” because he often had a twig in his mouth, he was killed while serving in the Yorkshire Regiment during the Somme offensive on 6 August 1916.
His VC Citation read: “For most conspicuous bravery. He was foremost in the attack, bombing the enemy with great gallantry, when he was severely wounded in the foot. He was urged to go back but refused and continued to throw bombs. Later his leg was shattered by a shell, and he was unable to stand, so he lay in the trench adjusting detonators and straightening the pins of bombs for his comrades. He died before he could be carried out of the trench. For the last eleven months he had always volunteered for dangerous enterprises and has always set a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty.”
Repairs and cleaning work will also be made to the final resting place of three Scandinavian seamen (two Norwegians and a Dane) who died when their ship was torpedoed in the First World War. They died after the S/S Matti of Tvedestrand, Norway, was torpedoed by a German U Boat on 22 September 1917 near Flamborough Head. The shop was towed to Smiths Dockyeard at South Bank and, eventually, Johan Gunderson Brekke, Peter Ingvald Kvernberg and Waldmar Andersen were buried in the Cemetery.
Agnes Perry, who was 19, died while working in Eston Steelworks as a Labourer in the First World War after a fall from scaffolding while tarring the inside of a tank. Born in Middlesbrough Workhouse she spent most of her life there and in a children’s home before answering the call to serve the war effort. Her workmates clubbed together to pay for a headstone.
Cllr Adam Brook, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “These heroes should never be forgotten and this has been an excellent project. It’s a good example of our community and a number of organisations coming together to make positive improvements. I’d like to congratulate and thank the Eston Cemetery Volunteers Group, the Victoria Cross Trust, the relative who contributed financially, the local company who gave materials for free, our colleagues at the council - and absolutely everyone involved.”
Cllr Dave Taylor, the council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the recent restoration work at Eston Cemetery and the Eston Cenotaph. It was truly inspiring to see so many people come together to help restore the graves of those who served — including Victoria Cross recipient William Short, who lies beside fellow VC winner Richard Sandford.
“But it’s not only former servicemen who deserve to be remembered. I was particularly moved by the story of Agnes Perry, who lived a difficult life and died while doing vital work for the war effort. Every grave tells a story, and each one deserves our respect. It was also fantastic to welcome the Victoria Cross Trust to Eston. Their long-overdue cleaning of the Eston Cenotaph was very much appreciated. The cenotaph has stood proudly since 9 January 1921, serving as a daily reminder of the 380 names engraved on it and all who have served since the beginning of the Great War. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to two outstanding local community groups: the Eston Cemetery Volunteers and the Eston Remembrance Committee. Your continued dedication ensures that the sacrifices made by so many are never forgotten.”
The Friends of Eston Cemetery, The Victoria Cross Trust and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project. Company Green and Sons of Lingdale also kindly donated all the cement and aggregate for free to set the stones in Eston Cemetery.
If you are a relative of one of the fallen commemorated at the cemetery, The Friends of Eston Cemetery would love to hear from you. Contact Bereavementservices@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk