They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them 

Darlington Borough Council, and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, have both approved for Darlington Branch of The Royal British Legion to publish photos and information of War Graves and Memorials within the Darlington area 

(Updated 23/04/2025) 

Please Note

• War Graves are shown in Surname Alphabetical Order
• This is an on-going project, where further information and records are still to be found by the RBL Darlington Branch Project Team

There are 5 War Graves/Remembrance on Family Headstones, within St Andrews Church Cemetery, Haughton Le Skerne.  They are all servicemen, from:

• The United Kingdom 

_______________________________________________________________

Air Mechanic William Addison - The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) - British Army Air Arm - Died 15/08/1917

(Service Number and further details are not known)

Born: 1887 (Exact date unknown)

From: Darlington, County Durham, England

Husband of Lucy Annie Clark Addison, of Darlington

Killed In Action

William is commemorated on the below family headstone in the churchyard at St Andrew's Church, Haughton-le-Skerne

William is commemorated on the War Memorial, Haughton-Le-Skerne, Darlington (See "Darlington War Memorials" on this website)

_______________________________________________________________

Herbert W Brown-Smith - Died September 1917

(Rank, Service Number, Unit and further details are not known)

Born: Unknown

From: Unknown

Killed In Action September 1917

Herbert is commemorated on the below family headstone in the churchyard at St Andrew's Church, Haughton-le-Skerne

_______________________________________________________________

4200011 Sergeant George David Hardy - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Attached to 193 Field Regiment Royal Artillery - Died 13/08/1944 Aged 28

Born: 17/01/1916

From: Darlington, County Durham, England

Son of Andrew William and Rachel Amy Hardy, of Darlington

Husband of Ruth Joan Hardy, of Darlington

He was accidentally killed while on active service.  His death was registered at Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland, [not necessarily his place of death]

Buried With Family Members in the churchyard at St Andrew's Church, Haughton-le-Skerne

     The headstone reads:

     In loving memory of my dear husband
     Sgt George David Hardy, R.E.M.E.
     Accidently killed 13th Aug. 1944. Aged 28 years

_______________________________________________________________

5760 Private William Rigg - 1st 5th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry - Died 14/01/1917 Aged 25

Born: 1891 (Exact date unknown)

From: Leeming, Hambleton, North Yorkshire, England

On 30 December 1916 William Rigg was admitted to 21 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) suffering from pneumonia. 21 CCS was situated at Corbie, close to Amiens in northern France. At the time the men of the battalion were enjoying a rest period in Baizieux. Corbie is only 8km south of Baizieux and would have been the nearest Casualty Clearing Station. His service record states that he died on 14 January 1917 from tubercular bronchopneumonia contracted on active service

Buried in La Neuville Communal Cemetery, in Corbie

William is commemorated on the below family headstone in the churchyard at St Andrew's Church, Haughton-le-Skerne, the birth place of his mother

_______________________________________________________________

30040363 Marine Owen Wason - 45 Commando Group, Royal Marines - Died 24/10/2016 Aged 26

Born: 27/01/1990

From: Darlington, County Durham, England

Served on Operation Herrick 9, (November 2008 to April 2009), and Operation Herrick 14, (May 2011 to October 2011)

Tragically, at the age of 26, Owen took his own life. He was found by his girlfriend hanged in his own home

Owen was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following two tours of Afghanistan between 2008 and 2011 as a serving Royal Marines Commando with 45 Commando Group

His first tour of duty was as part of Operation Herrick 9, a particularly "brutal" operation and he was the youngest Commando at only 18.  He was commended for his commando spirit and described as a "hoofing" soldier

Haunted by his experiences there, particularly seeing eight of his friends killed by the Taliban, Marine Wason developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  He kept his memories and his trauma to himself, and hid his feelings from those who were close to him.

He returned to Afghanistan in 2011, but it was his first tour of duty which was considered the most brutal and had the most damaging effect

The funeral of the former Royal Marine was held on Wednesday 02/11/2016 at St Andrews Church, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, followed by cremation at Darlington Crematorium

Owen is buried in the churchyard at St Andrew's Church, Haughton-le-Skerne

There is an memorial plaque, for Owen, at the nearby school in which he attended - The Education Village, Salters Lane South, Darlington (See "Darlington War Memorials" on this website)