PUPILS have devoted their art class to producing Remembrance crosses after their teacher was moved to read how one North-East street had lost 13 men during the First World War.

Elysia Waller, head of art at Hurworth School, near Darlington, read an article in The Northern Echo about the 13 men from Darlington’s Park Place being killed on the Western Front in northern Europe between May 5, 1915 and August 23, 1918.

Along with Cumberland Street, Park Place lost the most residents of any Darlington street during The Great War.

Inspired by the story in Chris Lloyd’s Echo Memories section, Mrs Waller arranged for her pupils to produce Remembrance crosses out of laser-cut fibreboard and using acrylic paint in a “stipple” effect to blend in appropriate colours.

“I was just struck by the enormity of just one street losing sons, husbands and brothers,” said Mrs Waller. “It really brought home the tragedy and impact of war and I thought it would be a nice project for the children at Remembrance time.”

The 13 men who lost their lives were: Rifleman Joseph Martin; 2nd Cpl Edward Freeman; Pte Lawrence Degnan; Pte Ernest Moore; Sapper John Egley; Pte William Kell; Pte Fred Lowis; Pte Robert Allinson; Pte James Griffiths; L-Cpl David Iceton; L-Cpl John Kirby; Pte Thomas Marshal and Lt John Milner.

Their names all feature on the Hurworth School crosses and some pupils also wanted to remember their own relatives.

Annabel Crompton, 11, honoured her Great Grandfather, William Lancaster, who died in the Second World War, having survived the First World War.

She said: “I think it’s a really good thing that the school is doing this because it’s really important for us to remember those who died. It’s nice to think about my great grandad in this way.”

Harry Johnson, 11, added: “It’s a good thing to make us remember but it also makes me sad to think of all the people who died fighting for us.”

The crosses will be displayed in the school ahead of Remembrance Sunday.