WW2 memorial plaque honour for 'forgotten sons'

1 hour ago

Julie Smithin Burradon

News image — Relatives of the men who died were at the unveiling in the village primary school

BBC A group of relatives are stood in a line to the left and right side of the newly unveiled war memorial. The memorial lists fifteen men who lost their lives in World War II. In front of the memorial there are two frames containing a photograph of one of the men and his medals. — Relatives of the men who died were at the unveiling in the village primary school

A plaque has been unveiled honouring 15 "forgotten sons" of a former pit village, who lost their lives in World War Two.

For the past 30 years Chris Wray, of Burradon and Camperdown Community Association in North Tyneside, has been "trying to discover" who the miners were to make a memorial.

The village mystery was solved through a "chance conversation" with resident Marian Toy, who revealed she had a list of all of the men, which had been sourced over time by the St John's Parish History Society.

Relatives of the men, residents and members of the association joined children at the village primary school, where the plaque was unveiled, for a special assembly to commemorate each of their lives.

Harold Haskins once worked in the village pit and was called away to join the Navy. He was lost at sea, aged just 22.

His great-niece Julia Mouzon said: "My grandparents would be really proud that he's going to get commemorated.

"It feels really emotional, the sacrifice everyone has made who is on that plaque."

The names of men who sacrificed their lives during World War II from the village of Burradon visible on a silver plaque to commemorate each one of them. The names are engraved in black ink. The plaque has a wooden surround. — The plaque bears the names of the men who sacrificed their lives

Donna Glennie unveiled the plaque together with one of the school's pupils.

She came to honour her uncle Thomas Gallon, who was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

She said it had been "very emotional" and it "was nice" to have his name on display in the village.

Money for the plaque was raised by the community association.

Donna Glennie, who has shoulder-length blonde hair, stands with her uncle's war medals — Donna Glennie, holding her uncle's war medals, helped to unveil the plaque with pupils at the school

Wray described it as "a very proud day for the village".

"The children will be the legacy for these men and will probably remember this day for the rest of their lives, and hopefully they may find out the stories behind the men," he added.

The existing World War One and new World War Two plaques will hang side by side in the school, ensuring the men who sacrificed their lives will never be forgotten.

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