The War Memorials Trust's record of this memorial can be found at https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/90121

Twitter: On 21/9/2021 Northumberland Police tweeted: GREAT work today by Tynedale NPT & our colleagues at Stanley NPT@DurhamPolice reclaiming a stolen WW1 memorial. The battlefield cross has been missing for over a decade & will be returned to its rightful place in Warden Church, Hexham very soon. RIP 2ndLieut. Leadbitter. #WW1 (https://twitter.com/NPNland/status/1440341728456708097 ) On 23/9/2021 Northumbria Police tweeted: Excellent work from off-duty Insp Chris Farish, who spotted a WWI grave marker for sale in a second-hand shop. After doing some digging & working with @DurhamPolice he discovered it had been stolen, and then returned it to its rightful home at St Michael & All Angels Church. (https://twitter.com/northumbriapol/status/1441004850389585920 ). Both tweets were accompanied by a photo of the memorial.

The Shields Gazette online reported on 23/9/2021: 'Off-duty police inspector finds church's stolen war memorial while out shopping. A war memorial has been returned to the church it was stolen from – thanks to a dedicated off-duty police officer. Northumbria Police Inspector Chris Farish was shopping in Durham when he spotted a First World War grave marker for sale in a second-hand shop. He did some digging into its origins and discovered the memorial was listed as being at St Michael and All Angels Church, Warden – but had been stolen in 2008. Officers from Northumbria Police’s Hexham Neighbourhood Policing Team joined forces with a team from Durham Constabulary and recovered the memorial and delivered it back to its rightful home. Hexham NPT Inspector Garry Neill said: “This was an impressive discovery by our eagle-eyed officer who, thinking it a rather unusual item to see for sale, did some digging in his own time and sought the help of his on duty colleagues to investigate further. “Thanks to his dedication and quite frankly thoughtfulness and eagerness to do the right thing and make sure this memorial was returned to the rightful place, a brave soldier’s legacy will live on. “We also want to thank the shop for their assistance in returning the memorial.” https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crime/off-duty-police-inspector-finds-churchs-stolen-war-memorial-while-out-shopping-3393762

Hexham Courant online reported on 24/9/2021: 'Stolen WW1 memorial found after over a decade. A World War One memorial that was stolen from a church back in 2008 has been found by police. The battlefield cross has been missing for more than a decade after it was taken from the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Warden, near Hexham. The cross was found by police laying on the ground in Durham, as of yet nobody knows how it got there. Earlier this week Northumberland Police announced that it has been found and it will soon be back where it belongs. A statement said: "Great work by Tynedale Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and our colleagues at Stanley NPT at Durham Police reclaiming a stolen WW1 memorial. "The battlefield cross has been missing for over a decade and will be returned to its rightful place in Warden Church, Hexham very soon." The cross was originally situated in a family grave to commemorate Second Lieutenant Leadbitter, a soldier who fought during the First World War. Rev Jeremy Thompson of St Michael and All Angels Church, said: "I didn't know it was lost! It was removed from the church yard before I arrived as a vicar. "I was very intrigued when I was told about it by police. "I was surprised to be told that they had found it but it was a pleasant surprise." The memorial has now been sent to be repaired before it is returned back to the church. Rev Thompson is planning to go this weekend and bring the cross back to the church. On what plans he has for the memorial he said: "My plan is that it doesn't got back outside as it doesn't mark a grave, the soldier has been buried in France. "I would like to get the cross displayed in the church as part of our war memorial." The cross will be displayed in the church before it is placed in its final position. https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/19601360.stolen-ww1-memorial-found-decade/