Cathedral
Thursday, 29 March 2018 in 56m
1296 Plain Bob Major
1 David Hamby
2 Richard M Grainger
3 Joanne Ayre
4 William Davidson
5 Stephen Hamby
6 Stephen B Bell
7 Christopher Mansfield
8 Howard E J Smith (C)
The bells of this Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas were rung today as part of “Ringing to Remember” – the Durham & Newcastle Association of Church Bellringers First World War ringing commemoration. On this day one hundred years ago a bellringer from St. Oswald’s Church, Durham was killed. We rang to celebrate his life and the ultimate sacrifice that he made.
Company Sergeant Major Wilson Forrest
Wilson Forrest was born in Middlesbrough on 9th. January 1884. His parents were Wilson and Frances. By 1911 the family consisted of the parents and seven children – Albert, 29, Sarah Ann, 26, Louisa, 34, Frances, 19; and Wilson junior, 17, Cicely Potter 9 and an adopted daughter – 19 year old Edith Smith from Boroughbridge in Yorkshire.
Wilson joined the 18th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), the ‘Durham Pals’ - the City Battalion, service number was 18/492. Wilson survived on the Western Front from 1916 to early 1918, but on Good Friday 29th. March, when the battalion was attempting to stem the German advance, he was killed by a stray shell while in the trenches.
Wilson Forrest is buried at Bienvillers Military Cemetery in the Pas de Calais, 12 miles south-west of Arras, France. Grave XV B 5., and also remembered on the Durham County Hall memorial, the plaque and cross at Bede College, the Ringers Memorial plaque at Newcastle Cathedral and in the Central Council of Church Bellringers Roll of Honour kept below the ringing chamber at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Wilson Forrest we have remembered you

This performance is linked to the event Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Association — Ringing to Remember

Church Bellhangers of Distinction