War hero to get village honour
MEMORIAL STONE TO BE UNVEILED TO FORMER PITMAN AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS
veterans, servicemen and women, dignitaries and members of McNally’s family coming together to pay tribute.
The ceremony will take place at the war memorial at 11am on Saturday, October 27, and will be followed by a free
Murton Parish Council has led and funded the project, with support from Murton Heritage Society, Murton Welfare Association and East Durham Area Action Partnership.
Tom Pinkney, chairman of Murton Parish Council, said: “Knowing Murton was the home of someone who won a distinction as high as the Victoria Cross is a source of great pride in our village.
“We are expecting members of McNally’s family to attend and I think this, along with the fact the ceremony is taking place so close to Remembrance Day, will make the day even more poignant.
“I would like to say a special thank you to Murton Heritage Society who have worked so hard preparing the exhibition and revealing more details about the life of this extraordinary man.”
Coun John Lethbridge, Chairman of Durham County Council, said: “It will be an honour to stand alongside the people of Murton and pay tribute to William McNally at a time when the First World War is at the forefront of all of our minds.
“This is the final VC memorial stone to be installed in County Durham, and it has been extremely moving to see communities across the county commemorate their heroes over the last four years.”
Born in Murton in 1894, McNally attended Murton Colliery School until he was 14, when he went to work underground as a pit pony boy.
Despite being wounded three times, McNally returned to work at Murton Colliery after the war.