WHEN Sergeant Joseph Stephenson, who had fought for king and country throughout the First World War, unveiled the cenotaph outside Darlington’s new memorial hospital on November 11, 1928, he immediately knew something was wrong.
The new Memorial Hall next to the cenotaph, which is now the focus of the town’s remembrance ceremony, contained 700 names of fallen men on its wall – but many were missing.
“He realised that day there were a lot of chaps who he knew from where he lived in the town whose names were not on the walls and he felt it was an injustice and that something should be done to correct these mistakes,” says his grandson Paul Stephenson, whose research has righted that wrong.
Last night, new panels bearing the missing names of more than 200 Darlingtonians who died in the two world wars, were being installed in the Memorial Hall ahead of tomorrow’s traditional Remembrance Sunday ceremony – and taking part in the parade for the first time will be 10-year-old Layla Henderson, the great-great-grand-daughter of the sergeant who unveiled it and spotted that names were missing.
In the chaos after the First World War, men who had no one left to speak up for them were omitted when the list of fallen was compiled – even though they may be included on a memorial elsewhere in the town.
Using strict criteria that only people born in the town and who provably lived there for the bulk of their often short lives fulfilled, Paul, assisted by his daughter Tracy, has spent 10 years coming up with a list of 155 First World War men whose names were omitted along with 75 Second World War men and one woman.
In 2021 and 2022, The Northern Echo published those names in its Memories section and on its front page to ensure that their sacrifice was never forgotten and to speak up for those who had lost their voices.
And then we badgered anyone who would listen – MPs, mayors, councillors – to get the wrong righted, and now the County Durham & Darlington NHS Trust has acted, adding the new dignified boards to the walls of the Memorial Hall.
Jeremy Cundall, deputy chief executive at the Trust, said: “We are honoured to have been able to support this important initiative and contribute to the creation and installation of the missing names. The memorial stands as a testament to the Trust's commitment to honouring the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Paul, Tracy and the Echo’s Chris Lloyd for their tireless efforts in researching and identifying the missing names. Their dedication and passion have ensured that these fallen heroes are finally recognised and remembered.
“The unveiling of the new memorial is a significant moment for Darlington Memorial Hospital and the entire community. It serves as a reminder of the bravery and selflessness of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The boards are designed to be the reverse colour scheme of the 1928 inscriptions. New amendments or additions can be easily made.
The public will be able to see them for the first time after tomorrow’s traditional Remembranc ceremony at the cenotaph at 11am.
Taking part in the parade for the first time will be 10-year-old Layla Henderson, the great-great-grand-daughter of Sgt Joseph Stephenson who pulled a cord which dropped a sheet to reveal the cenotaph exactly 95 years ago.
“It is very special that he unveiled it, and I am looking forward to the parade on Sunday,” said Layla, who is marching as a member of the 3rd Darlington Girls Brigade, and will be carrying her great-great grandfathers’ medals. “I’m very proud of all my family.”
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