Show on map In the First World War between October 1917 and May 1919 the Royal Flying Corps had a base for seaplanes on the Seaton Channel know as “Seaton Carew II”.
Some sources name this as the No.36 Home Defence Squadron although No. 246 Squadron seems to be more fitting.
Seaplanes flown from here were the Sopwith Baby and Short 184 (perhaps the Short 320 too although sources differ)
Although overgrown and eroded the launching slipway can still easily be seen.
Show on map The pillbox overlooks the Seaton On Tees channel, where Greatham Creek reaches the sea.
Externally its virtually free of grafitti, perhaps due to its remote location.
Inside the mounting pole for a Bren or Lewis gun still remains.
Show on map War graves are a very common site in virtually every cemetery in the country, but its more unusual to see one for a woman.
20 year old Jean Scargill was one of 24 members of the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force who died in Yorkshire during the war. She was killed when her truck was hit by a Halifax bomber on Marston Moor on 8 July 1943.
Show on map Although WW1 and WW2 memorials can be found in most towns, Boer War memorials (1899-1902) are much less common.
Its very telling that there are only two names killed in fighting at Wolmaransstad, while the remaining four died of disease.
The monument was unveiled by Middlesbrough MP Samuel Sadler on 27th January 1904.
Show on map William Short from Eston was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery on 6th August 1916 at Munster Alley, Contalmaison, France, during the Battle of the Somme.
At the time it was reported :-
He was foremost in the attack, bombing the enemy with great gallantry, when he was severely wounded in the foot. He was urged to go back, but refused and continued to throw bombs. Later his leg was shattered by a shell and he was unable to stand, so that he lay in the trench adjusting detonators and straightening the pins of bombs for his comrades.
He died before he could be carried out of the trench. For the last eleven months he had always volunteered for dangerous enterprises, and had always set a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty.
Short had worked as as craneman at Bolckow, Vaughan & Co Steelworks in Eston. The upper part of the momument looks very much like local ironstone, having weathered in much the same way as the ironstone obelisks in the area.
Show on map Newton Memorial Chapel was built in 1876, it was named after the Reverand Robert Newton of Roxby (1780 – 1854) who was a travelling Wesleyan minister.
The chapel was hit by a German bomb on Saturday March 15, 1941.
A house stands on the site now, but parts of the graveyard can still be seen on the land behind that.
Show on map Loftus War Memorial was unveiled on 11th November 1922, it was designed by B J Wormleighton and erected by C Hebditch.
Two panels list the casualties of World War 1
A third panel holds the World War 2 additions.
Interestingly the first name Herbert Armsby has been erased because he actually returned home 8 years later having claimed he lost his memory (although he did return home shortly after an amnesty was declared on deserters)
The fountain below carries the inscription “THESE LAID THE WORLD AWAY AND POURED OUT THE RED SWEET WINE OF YOUTH, GAVE UP THE YEARS TO BE OF WORK AND JOY AND THAT UNHOPED SERENE THAT MEN CALL AGE” which is a line from The Dead by Rupert Brooke.
There is an additional plaque from 2002 dedicated to Stanley Hollis who was the only person to be awarded the Victoria Cross on D-Day 6th June 1944.
He is also commemorated as one of the only three locals to be awarded the VC on a memorial in Middlesbrough Town Hall
Show on map The bombing of Middlesbrough Train Station is well reported in local books.
This small plaque inside the station commemorates the eight people killed that day.
James Fred Bink, John William Bowe, Derek Corfield, Charles Raymond Taylor, George William Barnett (should be Barrett), Timothy Carroll, Soloman Peter Niman and William Henry Thornelowe.
Show on map This pillbox is stranded in a gated housing development at the southern corner of the golf course.
It looks like all the opening have been blocked, but it cannot be approached for a closer look.
Show on map The area to the North-West of Hartlepool seems to have been a heavily defended during World War 2.
Here is another example of a pillbox in that area, although sadly this one is sealed up and covered in grafiti.
