War heroes remembered in grave restoration project

Friends of Eston Cemetery and experts from The Victoria Cross Trust carried out the restoration

Volunteers have restored graves and memorials, uncovering the stories of the people behind the names.

Friends of Eston Cemetery and experts from The Victoria Cross Trust carried out the work at the site near Middlesbrough.

Most of the graves memorialise people who died in both world wars, including Pte William Short, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

Friends of Eston Cemetery chair Vince Smith said it was an "honour" to remember the heroes.

Pte Short was born in William Street in Eston before moving to Grangetown.

The soldier, who had nine brothers and sisters and was a keen footballer, worked at Grangetown Iron and Steel Works before World War One.

Sometimes known as "Twiggy" because he often had a twig in his mouth, he was killed in France in August 1916 while serving in the Yorkshire Regiment. He was 31 years old.

Pte Short died during the Battle of the Somme and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery

According to his Victoria Cross citation, he continued fighting when he was severely wounded in the foot and had been "a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty".

"He was urged to go back but refused and continued to throw bombs," the citation said.

"Later, his leg was shattered by a shell, and he was unable to stand, so 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."

Another story uncovered during the project was that of 19-year-old Agnes Perry, who died while working in Eston Steel during World War One after falling from scaffolding while tarring the inside of a tank.

Born in Middlesbrough Workhouse, she spent most of her life there and in a children's home before answering the call to serve the war effort.

Her workmates clubbed together to pay for a headstone.

More work has also taken place on the Grade II listed Evans Memorial to local philanthropist Jane Evans.

Repairs and cleaning work will also be made to the final resting place of three Scandinavian seamen who died when their ship was torpedoed in September 1917.