FAMILY CONNECTIONS

FAMILY CONNECTIONS

There are several family connections, brothers, cousins, brothers-in-law, uncles and nephews etc.  Some of these are detailed below:

There are 7 sets of brothers who died.

BAGLEY

  • 16381 Private Robert Bagley, 6th Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment) was killed in action 7 August 1915.[1] He was about 29 years old and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey, the St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages, Maude Terrace, St. Helen’s Auckland and the Roll of Honour, West Auckland Memorial Hall.
  • 157781 Sapper W.H. Bagley, 177th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers died 4 July 1917 and is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery, near Ieper, Belgium. [2] He was about 24 years old and is commemorated on the St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages, Maude Terrace, St. Helen’s Auckland and the Roll of Honour, West Auckland Memorial Hall.

BESTFORD

  • 19466 Private John Bestford, 10th Battalion, the Yorkshire (Alexandra, Princes of Wales’ Own) Regiment was killed in action 28 May 1916 and is buried at Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt.[3] He is commemorated on the West Auckland War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in the West Auckland Memorial Hall.
  • 19/441 Private Wilkinson Bestford, 19th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 19 August 1917 and is buried at Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery.[4] He was 22 years old and is commemorated on the West Auckland War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in the West Auckland Memorial Hall.

CHRISTON

  • 54339 Private Norman Christon, 1/5th Battalion, the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) was killed in action 9 October 1917 and is buried in Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, Belgium.[5] He was 30 years old and is commemorated on Cockfield War Memorial.
  • 221725 Private Victor Christon, 22nd Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 26 March 1918 and is buried in Pargny British Cemetery, Belgium France.[6] He was 24 years old and is commemorated on Cockfield War Memorial.

FEATHERSTONE

  • 18/65 Private Wallace Featherstone, 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 1 March 1917 and is buried at Gommecourt British Cemetery No. 2, Hebuterne, France.[7] He was about 34 years old and commemorated on the Etherley War Memorial, the Roll of Honour in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Etherley and the Evenwood WMC Memorial Plaque.
  • 14017 Private Jonathan Ralph Featherstone, 10th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry died of pneumonia 28 February 1917 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.[8] He was 35 years old and is commemorated on the Etherley War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Etherley.

LOWTHER

  • Lance Corporal C. Lowther, 1/6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 1 October 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.[9] He was 28 years old and is commemorated on the Butterknowle War Memorial and the memorial plaque in St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.
  • Second Lieutenant William Lowther, 5th Battalion, the Yorkshire (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own) Regiment was killed in action 27 May 1918 and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France.[10] He was 26 years old and is commemorated on the Butterknowle War Memorial and the memorial plaque in St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.

OATES

  • 7003 Private Robert Oates, 14th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action 30 May 1918 and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France.[11] He was 23 years old and is commemorated West Auckland War Memorial.
  • 260134 Lance Corporal Joseph Oates, 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action 8 May 1918 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. [12] He was about 20 years old and is commemorated on the St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages. .

STEPHENSON

  • 39150 Private Percival Cade Stephenson, 12th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 28 March 1918 and is buried in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Belgium.[13] He was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Woodland War Memorial and the Memorial Plaque in St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.
  • 91960 Private T.W. Stephenson, 15th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry died of wounds 31 May 1918 and is buried at Sissonne British Cemetery, France.[14] He was about 25 years old and is commemorated on the Woodland War Memorial and the Memorial Plaque in St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.

WALKER/CHAMBERS/SUMMERSON

  • 36093 Private William Gordon Brumwell Walker, 3rd Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry died 5 November 1916 and is buried at Cockfield Cemetery. [16] He was 34 years old and is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial. He was married to Pheobe Elizabeth and they had a daughter, Pheobe Lillian.
  • Brother-in-law: William’s younger sister was Maria Mary who 1 June 1916, married Norman Wilson Chambers at St. Mary’s Church, Cockfield. [17]  22/929 Private Norman Wilson Chambers, 22nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry died of wounds 26 October 1916 and is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France.[18]  He was 27 years old and is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, Cockfield Council School. Norman Chambers was a school master at Cockfield Council School.
  • Cousin: Second Lieutenant H.W. Summerson, 9th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment died of wounds 5 June 1918 and is buried at Marfaux British Cemetery, south of Rheims.[19]  He was 28 years old and is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial, the screen in St. Mary’s Church, Cockfield and the Bishop Auckland Grammar School Memorial Plaque.  William’s father was named Stevens and one of Stevens’ sisters was Alice (born 1860).  In 1886 Alice Walker married Herbert William Summerson.[20]  Their first son was Herbert Walker Summerson born 1889.

HEBDON

Ralph and Ernest William Hebdon were cousins.

  • 2211 Corporal Ralph Hebdon 1/6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 5 November 1916. He was about 26 years old and is buried at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France [21] and commemorated on the St. Helens Colliery Memorial Cottages.
  • 205122 Private Ernest William Hebdon, 1/7th Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action 26 October 1917 and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.[22] He was 21 years old and he is also commemorated on the Butterknowle War Memorial and the memorial plaque in the St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack.

 PRIESTLEY

James and Gordon were cousins.

  • 12312 Gunner James Priestley, 2nd Brigade, Australian Field Artillery was killed in action 7 February 1917 and is buried at Martinpuich British Cemetery, France.[23] He was 30 years old and is commemorated on Butterknowle War Memorial, the Memorial Plaque in St. John the Evangelist Church, Lynesack; the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial, Canberra; the Corps of Artillery Roll of Honour, the Perth War Memorial, Western Australia and the Bayswater War Memorial, Western Australia.
  • 250165 Serjeant Gordon Priestley, 1/6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 26 October 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. [24] He was 24 years old and is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial.

WARDLE

Herbert and Ralph were cousins and their uncle was John Alfred Wardle.

  • 131539 Sapper Herbert Wardle MM 234th Field Company Royal Engineers was killed in action 31 July 1917 and is buried at New Irish Farm, Ypres, Belgium.[25] He was 20 years old and is commemorated on the Evenwood War Memorial.
  • 14526 Bugler Ralph Wardle, 14th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry died of wounds 24 April 1917 and is buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, France.[26] He was 22 years old and commemorated on the Evenwood War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood.
  • 3914 Private John Alfred Wardle, 1st/6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 1 October 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. He was 35 years old and is commemorated on the Chilton War Memorial.

 HEAVISIDE

William was Ralph Heaviside’s uncle.

  • 33027 Private William Heaviside, 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, 7 June 1917 and is buried at Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France.[27] He was 31 years old, married with 4 children and is commemorated on the West Auckland War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, Memorial Hall, West Auckland.
  • 51585 Private Ralph Heaviside, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds 6 September 1918 and is buried at Pernes British Cemetery, France.[28] He was 18 years old and is commemorated on the Evenwood War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood.

BLENKIN/DUNN

Wylam Blenkin was Thomas William Dunn’s brother-in-law.  Wylam Blenkin married Mary, Thomas’ sister.

  • 270040 Private Wylam Blenkin, 12th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 19 October 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. [29] He was 27 years old and is commemorated on the St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages and the West Auckland War Memorial. He was the husband of Mary and father of 2 children.
  • 3166 Private Thomas William Dunn, 1/6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 17 September 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, [30] He was about 28 years old and is commemorated on the St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages and the West Auckland War Memorial.

 PARMLEY/CLOSE FAMILIES

George Parmley’s sister, Lily married John Close’s brother, Robert:

  • 235587 Corporal George Parmley, 1/4th Battalion, the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry died of wounds 16 October 1917 and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.[31] He was 27 years old, married to Selina and they had 4 children and commemorated on Evenwood War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood.
  • 32627 Private John James Close, 14th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 11 December 1916 and is buried in Cambrin Churchyard, France.[32] He was 22 years old and commemorated on Cockfield War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, Cockfield Council School.

CREE/HUTCHINSON

Chistopher Cree’s daughter Lydia married “Syd” Hutchinson who was Joseph Hutchinson’s brother:

  • 21/1568 Private Christopher Cree, 21st (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, the Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds 2 February 1916 and is buried at Sailly-sur-la-Lys Canadian Cemetery, France. [33] He was 38 years old, married to Elizabeth, they had 5 children and he is commemorated on Cockfield War Memorial.
  • 53318 Private Joseph Hutchinson, 9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment was killed in action 23 March 1918 and is buried at Unicorn Cemetery, Vend’huile, France. He was 36 years old and commemorated on Evenwood War Memorial and the Roll of Honour, St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood.[34]

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[3] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[5] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[6] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[7] CWGC details give 1 February 1916 as the date of death for Private Wallace Featherstone.    The family headstone in Etherley churchyard, Soldiers Died in the Great War and “Durham Pals – 18th, 19th & 22nd Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry in the Great War” by John Sheen record his date of death as 1 March 1917.  The account of the battalion movements and action suggest that the later date is correct.  Army Form W.3372 records date of death as 2 March 1917

[8] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[9] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[10] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[11] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[12] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[13] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[14] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[15] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[16] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[17] England & Wales Marriage Index 1916-2005 Vol.10a p.457 and Army Form

[18] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[19] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[20] England & Wales 1837-1915 Marriage Index 1886 Q4 Teesdale

[21] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[22] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[23] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[24] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[25] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[26] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[27] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[28] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[29] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[30] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[31] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[32] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[33] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[34] Commonwealth War Graves Commission