Memorial

Plaque Cree 1917 N.E.R. Offices

Shildon

Memorial Name: Plaque Cree 1917 N.E.R. Offices (S122.13)

NEWMP Ref No.: S122.13

Parish: Shildon

Original Location:

Carriage and Wagons Accountant’s office or the Locomotive Accountant’s office.

Present Location:

A member of the Cree family.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled November 1921 by ex-servicemen who were members of the office staff.

Materials Used:

Brass

Who Commissioned:

Carriage and Wagons Accountant’s office or the Locomotive Accountant’s office.

Present Condition: Excellent, following a careful cleaning and restoration by Mr Tony Dargue.

Inscription:

In honoured memory of
John Cree
who served with the
4th Royal Fusiliers
in France.
Died at Stockport on 17th January 1917.
———-
“They are the world’s truest and noblest sons who act the noblest”.

Memorial Description:

Plaque 13¼ inches high x 18 inches wide (336 mm x 453 mm) with hemisphere at centre top.

There is a single line border.

At centre top is the Regimental badge of the Royal Fusiliers in colour.

Lettering is in Roman and san serif capitals.

Names:

See above.

Notes:

1. The plaque was found by Mr Peter Dargue, of the Sports and Social Club, in a box of rubbish which was about to be discarded.

2. In an article by Mr Mike Amos in the Northern Echo of Wednesday 1st March, the finding of the plaque was reported and a plea made for information. Ms Lynn Wilson, local Walks Co-ordinator alerted John Dixon to the article. After a conversation with Northern Echo Editorial Staff John spoke to Mr Amos, who very kindly put him in touch with Mr Dargue later that day, and arrangements were immediately made to document and photograph the plaque. Mr Peter Dargue had already made research enquiries via the British Legion, who had confirmed Private Cree’s details from the CWGC Website, and from the CD-ROM “Soldiers Died in the Great War”, as well as via research into local Census data. The publicity resulted in a member of the family contacting Mike Amos and the plaque is now with John Cree’s family.

3. See his Every Name a Story entry.

Sources:

Photos: John and Mavis Dixon

Auckland and County Chronicle
25/01/1917 reports Pte. Cree’s funeral.

Northern Echo
12/11/1921 reports unveiling of brass plaques to Ptes. Cree and Bamlett.

NER Railway Magazine 1921, page 232.
Source of additional information.

Source of quotation
“They are the world’s truest and noblest sons …” Not ascertained

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Messrs Peter and Tony Dargue;
Mike Amos of the Northern Echo;
Ms Lynn Wilson of Wear Valley District Council;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
James Pasby

Research In Progress:

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk