Post by Les on Jan 7, 2007 20:55:51 GMT
BUSINESSES are today being urged to help honour two of South Tyneside's most famous sons.
The Gazette today launches a campaign, For Our Heroes, to raise the last £3,500 needed to build statues of war heroes Private Thomas Young and Captain Richard Annand.
Both men risked their lives to save comrades in the First and Second World Wars respectively, and were awarded the Victoria Cross.
The South Shields branch of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Association started the campaign to commemorate the men with statues, to be placed in South Shields Town Hall.
On hearing of the shortfall, Geoff Ford, chairman of Ford Component Manufacturing in South Shields, called on other local businesses to help.
He said: "I felt the very least the business sector could do would be to offer, between us, to raise that sum of money." The Gazette has made a donation and is urging others to follow suit.
Editor John Szymanski said: "The bravery of these two men should be recognised, as they have received the highest award for courage this country can bestow.
"It is only right that South Tyneside recognises and reflects their sacrifice, so it can be immortalised for generations to come."
Norman Dick, from the DLI Association in South Shields, welcomed the campaign, saying: "It is going to be a great help."
South Tyneside's Mayor, Coun Ed Malcolm, added: "We welcome the support of Mr Ford and local businesses."
FOR OUR HEROES
WAR heroes Private Thomas Young and Captain Richard Annand had their bravery recognised with the military's highest honour.
Now we want the Victoria Cross (VC) holders to have a permanent memorial in South Tyneside, so they are never forgotten.
South Shields-born Capt Annand was awarded the first VC of the Second World War for saving his platoon after it came under heavy attack from the Germans at the River Dyal in Belgium in 1940.
At the time, he was a second lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He died on Christmas Eve 2004, aged 90.
Pte Young, from Boldon Colliery, was just 23 when he was awarded the VC by King George V in 1918.
He risked his life to help those injured on the battlefields during the First World War, working as a stretcher bearer on the front line in Burquoy, France, for the 9th Battalion DLI.
The DLI Association is fundraising to see a 6ft statue of each man placed on spare plinths inside South Shields Town Hall.
Norman Dick, from the association's South Shields branch, said: "There is nothing to remember these brave men in South Tyneside, so we decided to raise money for the statues. They will stay there for as long as the town hall, to make sure no one ever forgets them. Just because they are gone doesn't mean they are forgotten."
Fundraising towards the total cost of the project, estimated at £20,000, started almost a year ago.
Geoff Ford is urging businesses in South Tyneside to get on board and donate at least £50 each, to raise the remaining £3,500 by the end of this month.
The boss of South Shields-based Ford Component Manufacturing said: "I've written to 100 businesses to ask them each to contribute £50.
"The initial response has been great, and we raised £1,500 in the first week."
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Ed Malcolm, is also backing the bid to have the statues built.
He said: "They are two of South Tyneside's famous sons, and their bravery should be recognised."
An educational programme produced by the DLI Association, with the aid of South Tyneside Council, will be linked to the statues.
Coun Malcolm said: "Materials have been produced so members can go around schools and give talks about the wars, and the actions of these two men in particular."
WOUNDED LIEUTENANT WHO SAVED HIS PLATOON
CAPTAIN Richard Annand became known as the "Wheelbarrow VC" because he went back to enemy lines to rescue his wounded batman - and used a wheelbarrow to carry him back.
He then collapsed from loss of blood from his own wounds.
Before that, he ran across open ground three times to attack a German party on a bridge with hand grenades.
He always remained modest about his deeds, saying: "Every man who was with me deserved a medal.
"Countless deeds were done that went unrewarded.
"When I received my award, my feelings were of communal satisfaction, not an individual one."
During that night in 1940, a strong attack was beaten off, but by 11am the enemy launched again into a violent attack and sent forward a bridging party into the sunken bottom of the river.
Capt Annand, then a 2nd lieutenant, attacked the party, but when ammunition ran out, he went forward himself over open ground with total disregard for enemy mortar and machine gun fire.
Reaching the top of the bridge, he drove out the party below, inflicting more than 20 casualties with hand grenades.
Having been wounded, he rejoined his platoon, had his wound dressed and then carried on in command.
During the evening, another attack was launched and he again went forward with hand grenades and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.
"When the order to withdraw was received, he withdrew his platoon, but learning on the way back that his batman was wounded and had been left behind, he returned at once to the former position and brought him back in a wheelbarrow, before losing consciousness as the result of wounds.
In 2002, Capt Annand received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal along with the other 47 living holders of the Victoria or George Cross.
"He had been given the Silver Jubilee Medal 25 years earlier.
In 2000, he was honoured at a reception at South Shields Town Hall. He had previously been granted the freedom of the town.
FRONT LINE SOLDIER RISKED LIFE
PRIVATE Thomas Young was known as the "Cornfield VC" because he got drunk one night and lost his medals in a cornfield.
"He had the whole village out looking for them," said Norman Dick, ? of the South Shields branch of the Durham Light Infantry Association.
Despite having died 40 years ago, his selfless determination to help others live son in the memories of his friends and family.
In March 1918, he worked as a stretcher bearer on the front line in France, risking his own life to bring the injured back from No Man's Land.
When he was awarded the VC, Pte Young, born in 1895, said: "There's not a man of the Durhams who wouldn't have done what I did.
"It is just what anyone would have done if he could. The thing happened to come my way and I did it, that's all."
In 2004, a special stained glass window was unveiled in his memory at Gibson Court Medical Centre in Boldon Colliery.
Source : www.southtynesidetoday.co.uk from 4 January 2007
The Gazette today launches a campaign, For Our Heroes, to raise the last £3,500 needed to build statues of war heroes Private Thomas Young and Captain Richard Annand.
Both men risked their lives to save comrades in the First and Second World Wars respectively, and were awarded the Victoria Cross.
The South Shields branch of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Association started the campaign to commemorate the men with statues, to be placed in South Shields Town Hall.
On hearing of the shortfall, Geoff Ford, chairman of Ford Component Manufacturing in South Shields, called on other local businesses to help.
He said: "I felt the very least the business sector could do would be to offer, between us, to raise that sum of money." The Gazette has made a donation and is urging others to follow suit.
Editor John Szymanski said: "The bravery of these two men should be recognised, as they have received the highest award for courage this country can bestow.
"It is only right that South Tyneside recognises and reflects their sacrifice, so it can be immortalised for generations to come."
Norman Dick, from the DLI Association in South Shields, welcomed the campaign, saying: "It is going to be a great help."
South Tyneside's Mayor, Coun Ed Malcolm, added: "We welcome the support of Mr Ford and local businesses."
FOR OUR HEROES
WAR heroes Private Thomas Young and Captain Richard Annand had their bravery recognised with the military's highest honour.
Now we want the Victoria Cross (VC) holders to have a permanent memorial in South Tyneside, so they are never forgotten.
South Shields-born Capt Annand was awarded the first VC of the Second World War for saving his platoon after it came under heavy attack from the Germans at the River Dyal in Belgium in 1940.
At the time, he was a second lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He died on Christmas Eve 2004, aged 90.
Pte Young, from Boldon Colliery, was just 23 when he was awarded the VC by King George V in 1918.
He risked his life to help those injured on the battlefields during the First World War, working as a stretcher bearer on the front line in Burquoy, France, for the 9th Battalion DLI.
The DLI Association is fundraising to see a 6ft statue of each man placed on spare plinths inside South Shields Town Hall.
Norman Dick, from the association's South Shields branch, said: "There is nothing to remember these brave men in South Tyneside, so we decided to raise money for the statues. They will stay there for as long as the town hall, to make sure no one ever forgets them. Just because they are gone doesn't mean they are forgotten."
Fundraising towards the total cost of the project, estimated at £20,000, started almost a year ago.
Geoff Ford is urging businesses in South Tyneside to get on board and donate at least £50 each, to raise the remaining £3,500 by the end of this month.
The boss of South Shields-based Ford Component Manufacturing said: "I've written to 100 businesses to ask them each to contribute £50.
"The initial response has been great, and we raised £1,500 in the first week."
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Ed Malcolm, is also backing the bid to have the statues built.
He said: "They are two of South Tyneside's famous sons, and their bravery should be recognised."
An educational programme produced by the DLI Association, with the aid of South Tyneside Council, will be linked to the statues.
Coun Malcolm said: "Materials have been produced so members can go around schools and give talks about the wars, and the actions of these two men in particular."
WOUNDED LIEUTENANT WHO SAVED HIS PLATOON
CAPTAIN Richard Annand became known as the "Wheelbarrow VC" because he went back to enemy lines to rescue his wounded batman - and used a wheelbarrow to carry him back.
He then collapsed from loss of blood from his own wounds.
Before that, he ran across open ground three times to attack a German party on a bridge with hand grenades.
He always remained modest about his deeds, saying: "Every man who was with me deserved a medal.
"Countless deeds were done that went unrewarded.
"When I received my award, my feelings were of communal satisfaction, not an individual one."
During that night in 1940, a strong attack was beaten off, but by 11am the enemy launched again into a violent attack and sent forward a bridging party into the sunken bottom of the river.
Capt Annand, then a 2nd lieutenant, attacked the party, but when ammunition ran out, he went forward himself over open ground with total disregard for enemy mortar and machine gun fire.
Reaching the top of the bridge, he drove out the party below, inflicting more than 20 casualties with hand grenades.
Having been wounded, he rejoined his platoon, had his wound dressed and then carried on in command.
During the evening, another attack was launched and he again went forward with hand grenades and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.
"When the order to withdraw was received, he withdrew his platoon, but learning on the way back that his batman was wounded and had been left behind, he returned at once to the former position and brought him back in a wheelbarrow, before losing consciousness as the result of wounds.
In 2002, Capt Annand received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal along with the other 47 living holders of the Victoria or George Cross.
"He had been given the Silver Jubilee Medal 25 years earlier.
In 2000, he was honoured at a reception at South Shields Town Hall. He had previously been granted the freedom of the town.
FRONT LINE SOLDIER RISKED LIFE
PRIVATE Thomas Young was known as the "Cornfield VC" because he got drunk one night and lost his medals in a cornfield.
"He had the whole village out looking for them," said Norman Dick, ? of the South Shields branch of the Durham Light Infantry Association.
Despite having died 40 years ago, his selfless determination to help others live son in the memories of his friends and family.
In March 1918, he worked as a stretcher bearer on the front line in France, risking his own life to bring the injured back from No Man's Land.
When he was awarded the VC, Pte Young, born in 1895, said: "There's not a man of the Durhams who wouldn't have done what I did.
"It is just what anyone would have done if he could. The thing happened to come my way and I did it, that's all."
In 2004, a special stained glass window was unveiled in his memory at Gibson Court Medical Centre in Boldon Colliery.
Source : www.southtynesidetoday.co.uk from 4 January 2007