A HISTORY group has spent the past four years helping research the lives fallen soldiers from the village commemorated on Startforth’s war memorial.
Members of Boldron Parish History Group are now hoping relatives of the men will join them to unveil a plaque to commemorate an oak tree planted to mark the 100th anniversary of armistice on Sunday, November 11, when a beacon will be lit.
The war memorial, in the grounds of Startforth’s Holy Trinity Church, includes the war dead from Boldron, and Startforth, as well as Egglestone Abbey.
History group member Catherine Ryan has spent years researching the 12 men listed. There were four casualties from Boldron – brothers George and Robley Strong, John (Jack) Hewitson and Oliver Cook.
Mrs Ryan dug out documents from the National Archives and Durham County Record Office and even visited each of the commonwealth graves of the fallen soldiers in France listed on the memorial.
She said: “When we visited the graves we took wooden crosses with poppies on them, which we got from the British Legion, inscribed with each of their names from the people of Boldron. We also signed each of the visitors’ books saying the people of Boldron remember their sacrifice.”
A folio with all the information Mrs Ryan has uncovered about has been created along with copies of documents including the roll of honour, which details all those who went to war from the small hamlet.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War the villagers
have planted an oak tree on the green as a “living reminder” .
The plaque reads “planted on the centenary of the WW1 armistice in memory of Boldron’s fallen – Lest we forget” .
All are welcome to attend the ceremony, especially relatives of tho lost their lives in the Great War.
A remembrance tea has been organised in the village hall on Sunday, November 11, at 5.30pm when the folio Mrs Ryan has put together will be available to view.
This will be followed by the lighting of a beacon at 7pm and sounding of Last Post at 7.05pm.
