PARISH councillors hope to add the name of an airman, killed in action to the village war village memorial in time for its’ centenary.
Sergeant Arthur Cave McBay, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, was only 26 when he was killed during a night bombing raid over Nuremberg, in Germany, on the evening of February 25, 1943.
Sgt McBay and two other crew perished and were buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
Members of Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin Parish Council were alerted to the omission by one of Sgt McBay’s descendants earlier this year and plan to add his name to the memorial.
Clerk Judith Mashiter told members at their latest meeting she is in contact with the conservation officer at Durham County Council, who deals with war memorials, and will progress the situation.
She suggested an opportune time to officially unveil Sgt McBay’s name on the memorial would be at its centenary on October 23.
Meanwhile, Ms Mashiter told councillors a member of the public had been in touch, offering to research the war memorial’s history.
She said: “I went back to them to ask if I could share the letter and their details with council members but they didn’t wish to be named.
“They have researched other war memorials and have offered to do it free of charge for the council.”
Cllr Kevin Tallentire said: “We should take this person up on their offer as it could be beneficial.”
Chairman Cllr Bob Danby asked what they would be researching and queried why they did not wish to be named.
He said: “If you don’t know who the person is how can you know the research will be good?
“Are they going to look at who built it or the names? It is strange that they don’t want us to know their name.”
Cllr John Miller said: “This person was offered to do research on the war memorial for us free of charge. I’m getting very tired of chewing over these points time and again.”
Cllr Christine Gilbert said: “What happens if it comes back and it is awful and we don’t want to use it?
“I would rather have a discussion – it is very necessary to do it.”
The war memorial was unveiled by Lord Barnard on October 23, 1921. It originally had 32 names inscribed to commemorate those who died in the First World War.
The names of ten servicemen from the upper dales who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Second World War were added to a marble tablet on the reverse.
A further panel details the names of three other men who died from the effects war.
After discussion, parish councillors agreed to take up the offer of research.
