Dear Resident,

You may have noticed the new seat installed at North View, Newfield dedicated to George William Hedworth Demand. Always known as Sonny to friends and family.

Family members, as well as Mrs Dorothy Rand MBE and Mr David Elgy wanted to have a memorial bench situated on the green in front of North View, Newfield. The siting of the bench is between the two places where Sonny lived in Newfield.

The bench was provided by Brenda and Gillian nee Young, who are Sonny’s first cousins once removed. Much valuable assistance was given by Pelton Parish Council, Karbon Homes, Dorothy, David and the office of Rt Hon Kevan Jones MP.

On the 17th March 2023 an ‘Unveiling’ of the bench took place. Firstly, the Roseberry School children listened during their school assembly as Dorothy told them the story of Sonny. After the assembly the children and the guests walked to the bench where the ‘Unveiling’ took place. Below are some pictures taken on the afternoon and further information about Sonny provided by Brenda.

George William Hedworth Demand 1921-1945

(always known as Sonny to friends and family)

Sonny was born at Lumley View, Newfield, Chester-le-Street in July 1921 to Annie (nee Young) and Rene Demand, a Belgian.  Rene was one of the ‘Birtley Belgians’, who manned the armaments factory in Birtley during the First World War. The family later lived at Osborne House, Newfield and Sonny attended Roseberry School from 1926 -1935. The family relocated to Brussels and Sonny quickly became fluent in French. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Sonny joined the Belgian Army. However, after the German occupation of Belgium, he made the decision to leave Belgium and join the British Army.

He was smuggled over the Pyrenees into neutral Spain, where he was interned. In 1941, he was released and continued his journey to Britain. On arrival, he convinced the authorities of his identity and that he wasn’t an enemy spy by singing ‘The Blaydon Races’! He joined The Border Regiment, based in Carlisle and met and later married a local girl, Freda Ashworth. He was then recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE) because of his abilities and his fluency in French and English. He was selected for ‘Operation Scullion’ under the command of Captain Hugh Dormer. He parachuted into France in April 1943, but the target of sabotage, a shale oil refinery near Dijon proved to be too heavily guarded. They made their way back to England by a secret underground network, via Paris and Spain. A second successful attempt was made in August 1943.

Sonny made his way back to a safe house in Paris which was raided by the Gestapo. He was imprisoned, interrogated and later sent to Flossenberg Concentration Camp in Bavaria, where he was kept in grim conditions. As the U.S, army was approaching Flossenberg in March 1945, the commandant conducted tribunals and the remaining SOE agents were sentenced to death and were executed by hanging.  Sonny was 23 years old. In 1946, Lieutenant George Demand was given a posthumous mention in despatches, the citation stating ‘his coolness and courage were outstanding.’ His name is mentioned on SOE memorials in England and France, and most recently at Lumley View, Newfield where he was born.

Mrs Dorothy Rand MBE saying a few words prior to the ‘Unveiling’ of the bench

Local children, Mrs Dorothy Rand MBE seated. From left to right, Gillian, Rt Hon Kevan Jones MP and Brenda

Mr David Elgy and Mrs Dorothy Rand MBE seated. From left to right- Gillian, Rt Hon Kevan Jones MP and Brenda.

Local Police, Enid and Cllr Joyce Barker