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The memorial is in Carr-Ellison Park, which at the time of the memorial's erection was known as Hebburn park. The Carr-Ellison family lived in Hebburn Hall, and from 1897 the public was given permission to visit the hall's 25 acres of pleasure gardens. In 1920 Colonel Carr-Ellison donated the grounds to the Town Council, and they then received the present title.









C.G. - Coldstream Guards
M.R. - Manchester Regiment
N.F. - Northumberland Fusiliers
D.L.I. - Durham Light Infantry
I.Y - Imperial Yeomanry
K.R.R.C. - King's Royal Rifle Corps

The inscription for Charles Connor would seem to be incorrect, as he seems likely to have been 6117 Private C. Connor, 4th D.L.I., who was killed at Nooitgedacht on the 13th December 1900.










The Shields Daily Gazette, the only South Tyne newspaper I've seen so far, gave only one mention to the death of a Hebburn soldier, yet gave plenty of coverage to the memorial. There was a more local to Hebburn newspaper, the Jarrow Express, the record of which is held at South Shields' Local Studies, and which will hopefully have further information on the Hebburn men.


....HEBBURN MEN FOR THE FRONT.— In connection with the departure of a section of the 1st D.R.E. [Durham Royal Engineers] Volunteers for active service, a church parade was held yesterday morning. The men assembled in good numbers and marched to St. Oswald's Church, Hebburn, where an appropriate sermon was delivered by Canon Henderson, of Wallsend, who expressed his belief in the righteousness of the war. The khaki uniforms for the section have not yet arrived, but it is expected that they will be to hand in time for the men to depart for Chatham on Tuesday.
Shields Daily Gazette, Monday 29th January 1900


....RETURNED HOME TO DIE.—Yesterday afternoon the interment took place at Hebburn Cemetery, of the remains of James McKenna, a private in the Northumberland Fusiliers, who was invalided home a short while ago. McKenna, who lived with his mother in Prince Consort Road, Hebburn, was shot through the ribs in an engagement with the Boers. Four invalided soldiers attended the funeral.
Shields Daily Gazette, Wednesday 14th November 1900


....The War Office has issued a list of the casualties to the rank and file of General Clements' force at Nooitgedacht on the 13th December . . . [including] 4th Durham Light Infantry.—6117 Private C. Connor, killed.
The Newcastle Courant, Saturday 29th December 1900


....The War Office has issued the following casualties of Col. Benson's column at Brakenlaagte on Oct. 30th:—[including] Mounted Infantry — King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed [inc.] Private R. Applegarth.
Shields Daily Gazette, Friday 8th November 1901


....HEBBURN WAR MEMORIAL.—There is at present in course of preparation at Aberdeen, a handsome granite memorial to be erected at Hebburn-on-Tyne, in memory of the reservists in that district who fell in the recent war. The monument takes the form of a massive obelisk, tapering gracefully from a five feet base to a height of over twenty feet, and will, when completed, form another of the many war memorials which have been executed in Aberdeen during the past few years. The obelisk will be erected on the top of a mound in the public park at Hebburn.
Shields Daily Gazette, Wednesday 20th May 1903


Hebburn's Heroes.
....The erection of the town's memorial to the Hebburn men who died in South Africa is being awaited with much interest by the townspeople. The order for the monument has, I understand, been placed with an Aberdeen firm, and the District Council has given a most desirable site for it. The stone will be placed upon a high mound near the entrance to the ground, which will allow of the monument being seen from all parts of the park, so that in respect of position the committee has been very fortunate.
Shields Daily Gazette, Saturday 27th June 1903


....Mr Arthur Coote, J.P., managing director of Messrs Hawthorn, Leslie and Co's shipyard, will on Monday afternoon, unveil a monument erected in Hebburn park by public subscription to the memory of the men of the town who fell in the Boer war.
....It is a very handsome and imposing monument of grey granite, the design of which strikes one at once as impressive and appropriate. It is about 20 feet in height and about 4 feet square at base, and starts from a fine axed chamfered base. The next course is polished on four sides, the front being panelled off, showing the words "South Africa." The next base is also polished on four sides and richly moulded. On the front is a neatly carved representation ol the modern rifle and the words, " Braveiy they fought and well." The inscription panel is all polished and bears the following inscription:— "This memorial was erected by public subscription to the memory of Hebburn men who lost their lives in the Boer war, 1899-1902 :—
....Private William Fothergill, 2nd C.G., Pretoria, 2nd July, 1900.
....Private Joseph Lalley, 63rd M. R., Ladysmith, 22nd August, 1900.
....Private James McKenna, 2nd N.F., Hebburn, 10th Nov., 1900.
....Private Charles Connor, 4th D.L.I, Reitfontein, 22nd Dec, 1900.
....Farrier William Livingstone, C. Company, I. Y., Bloemfontein, 2nd Feb., 1901.
....Private W. Applegarth, K.R.R.C. Mounted Infantry, Braakenlagte, 30th Oct., 1901.
....The cornice or cap is very richly carved in neat moulds and on the front is a beautiful laurel wreath. A heavy all-polished moulded base and column constitute the shaft and a chaste drapery hangs over the top which again is surmounted by a moulded neck supporting a Globe, on which may be traced E and W hemispheres and continents marked —Africa being on the front. The memorial is erected on a mound in Hebburn Park and has been supplied by Mr J. Reed, of the North-West Durham Monumental Works, Blackhill, county Durham.
Shields Daily Gazette, Saturday 1st August 1903


....The unveiling of the memorial to Hebburn men who lost their lives in the late South African war, took place at Hebburn Park yesterday afternoon. The memorial takes the form of a handsome and imposing monument of grey granite. It stands on a mound near to the park gates.
....At the ceremony yesterday there was a large gathering of the general public. A detachment of the 1st D.R.E.V., under the command of Capt. Frank Price, and headed by the regimental band, marched from the Council Chamber in Argyle Street. In the procession were also several of the Yeomanry and Engineer Volunteers, who had been on active service as well as a "handyman,'' and the instructors of the local detachment of R.G.A.V. [Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers] In the wake of the volunteers came the Reservist Committee, members of the District Council, and representatives ot several friendly and trade societies.
....Mr T. Fleming, chairman, of the Reservist Committee, presided over the proceedings and he was supported by Mr A. Coote, Rev. J. K. Wilkinson, Mr J. C. Hedley, Mr Holmes, Mr Cowen, Mr Main, Mr Wilson, Mr Futter and others.
....After the singing of an appropriate hymn by a united choir under the leadership of Mr Elsdon, the Chairman explained that the memorial had been erected from the balance of the subscriptions to the local reservist fund. During the time the fund was in operation 137 persons were assisted; 25 wives, 55 parents, and 57 children. To these, sums ranging from 5s to 10s 4d per week were paid. This, he said, was one of the largest sums paid in the kingdom. The total income of the committee by subscriptions was £1,944 16s 8d. Out of this they had paid £1,787 6s 3d in relieving parents, wives, and children of reservists. From the balance of the money the committee had been enabled to erect the monument the unveiling of which he asked Mr Coote to perform.
....Mr A. Coote said the lines of the hymn "God takes our loved ones from our homes but never from our hearts" were most applicable to the spirit of the occasion which gathered them together that day, and it was because of that heartfelt love thay had for those who died in that distant land that they were assembled there. Whether they ought to have feelings of joy or sorrow he hardly knew, but to the relations of those whose names were on the memorial, they extended their sympathy. They would all remember that memorable time four years ago when the war was forced on this country by the President of the Transvaal Government and the amount of enthusiasm it created in the country, and the unswerving way in which the heads of the various departments worked to bring the war to a successful issue. Every man, woman, and child who could appreciate the position, knew that once this great nation had put its foot down no power on earth could raise it until it had accomplished its mission, and though they had had to go through the darkest nights those at the head of affairs never swerved. Now that they had finished their business and done with fighting they all hoped that equality, fraternity, and love would exist between their late antagonists and themselves. Previous to unveiling the memorial Mr Coote said the majority of the men had died of a dire fever in South Africa. It appeared to him that when a man went to war a great deal of the glory seems to have been lost when he succumbed to the fever rather than the fire of the enemy. Therefore one felt much regret that fever had taken so many of our troops off. In the name of the public of Hebburn it was an honour to unveil the memorial.
....As Mr Coote hauled up the flag which had covered the inscribed part of the monument the band played the Dead March after which the "Last Post* was sounded.
....Mr Futter on behalf of the Reservist Committee handed the memorial over to the care of the District Council.
....Mr W. Holmes, in the absence of the chairman of the Council (Mr J. Cordiner) accepted the trust.
....After votes of thanks the proceedings terminated with tbe singing of the National Anthem.
Shields Daily Gazette, Tuesday 4th August 1903


Hebburn's Memorial.
....An impressive scene was presented at Hebburn on Monday when the memorial to the local men who lost their lives in the South African campaign was unveiled by Mr Arthur Coote. It came as a fitting termination to the self-sacrificing labours of the Reservist Committee, who for over three years gave succour to the dependents of those who had gone to help their country in its hour of need. First praise must be given to the working men of the neighbourhood, for all along they gave regular and generous support to the Fund. By their contributions the committee were enabled to extend the margin of allowance in needy cases, and in some instances the assistance given was higher than that distributed in most other towns. At length the disbursements became unnecessary, and it was decided that the remaining balance should be devoted to a scheme for perpetuating the names of the gallant fellows who fought with the colours and never returned. While their bones are buried beneath the Veldt, a permanent appreciation of their deeds now occupies a favoured position in the Park, and succeeding generations may read of the part Hebburn took in a wonderful and historic campaign.
Shields Daily Gazette, Saturday 8th August 1903