Your Durham, Your History

This website tells the story of County Durham and its people in the First World War. Individual stories about people, places, events and organisations will reveal the impact of the conflict on entire communities a hundred years ago. Many stories focus on the home front and how life changed for both adults and young people. You can also explore the extraordinary lives lived by ordinary Durham people away from home in the years 1914 to 1919. Help us to discover, research and share new and forgotten stories about the area between the Rivers Tyne and Tees as part of the First World War centenary commemorations.
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Martin William Hall (1889-1956)

Hetton-le-Hole born man served with the DLI and the Labour Corps

Joseph Ramsay (1891-1958)

Coal miner from Brandon served in the Royal Field Artillery

Charles Davies (1878-1919)

Shildon railway worker who served with the 19th Hussars

Benjamin Chipchase Clayton (1895-1917)

Art teacher from Edmondsley who won the Military Cross

Tom Spencer (1893-1917)

Yorkshire man served with 18th DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial

John William Wilkinson Brydon (1897-1917)

South Moor miner served in the 2nd Battalion DLI

Thomas James Price (1878-1915)

Company Quartermaster-Sergeant in the 8th Battalion DLI

Thomas Forster (1894-1915)

South Moor bricklayer served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry

Thomas Henry Thompson (1891-)

Shildon railway worker served with 6th Battalion DLI before re-enlisting into the Royal Navy

James William Howe (1892-1919)

Shildon railway worker served in the East Yorkshire Regiment

Sydney Doran (1897-1918)

Shildon railway worker served in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers

John “Jack” Cummings Haswell (1897-1918)

Hesleden man served in the 1st/8th Battalion DLI whose grave marker from France is now situated in Hesleden

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