[1] James Affleck's pension cards name Jane Liddell of Whickham, Co Durham as the guardian of an unnamed 'illeg: child'. It is possible that she is also the child's mother. Her address is given as 'Tyne View, Whickham, Durham'. She is probably the Jane Liddell, who was the daughter of James W Liddell, colliery stone mason, and his wife Jane, and who was born at Whickham in 1895 and recorded as living there in the 1901 Census. Jane Liddell married George E HUme in 1922; the marriage was registerde
[2] 12th company RGA was possibly a precursor of the Anti Aircraft companies of the Royal Garrison Artillery referenced in Army Council Instruction (ACI) 1287 of 29th June 1916 which laid down the establishments for "Anti-Aircraft Companies, R.G.A., No.'s 1-53", which were to be formed and for which establishments were approved.
[3] There is no record of a marriage for a James Alexander in North Northumberland before 1891. Indeed in the 1891 census a James Alexander unmarried agricultural labourer is recorded living with his parents and siblings at Felkington, Duddo. Nor is there any record of the registration of the birth of a John Alexander in c 1887. A James Alexander married a Mary Jane Harbottle later in 1891. Mary Jane Harbottle, single, was recorded at Twizel in the 1891 census, where she is living with her parents, two unmarried brothers and John Harbottle aged 4 (b 1887) described as the parents ‘grandson’. The identification of the unmarried Mary Jane Harbottle with the married Mary Jane Alexander and the mother of L/Cpl John Alexander is based on (1) her date of birth being correct for Mary Jane Alexander, (2) the fact that she lived at Twizel, and (3) the correspondence of the year of birth of her presumed son John Harbottle, with year of birth of L/Cpl John Alexander as suggested by his age in Army records and Census returns.
[4] Details of No. 16967 Douglas Macclesfield Anderson's service largely derived from his service record: Library and Archives Canada, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 146 – 52, accessed 29th April 2016
<http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=pffww&id=8183&lang=eng>.
See also entries in the Yearbooks published by Wellington College: Douglas M Anderson's service and death is recorded in the Wellington Year Book 1917, 'Roll of Honour', pp 31-66 (at pp 31-2), accessed 13th July 2019
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/Filename.ashx?tableName=ta_yearbooks1914_22&columnName=filename&recordId=4>;
and in the Wellington Year Book 1922, 'War Memorial', pp 51-62 (at p 56), accessed 13th July 2019
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/Filename.ashx?tableName=ta_yearbooks1914_22&columnName=filename&recordId=9>
<http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=pffww&id=8183&lang=eng>.
See also entries in the Yearbooks published by Wellington College: Douglas M Anderson's service and death is recorded in the Wellington Year Book 1917, 'Roll of Honour', pp 31-66 (at pp 31-2), accessed 13th July 2019
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/Filename.ashx?tableName=ta_yearbooks1914_22&columnName=filename&recordId=4>;
and in the Wellington Year Book 1922, 'War Memorial', pp 51-62 (at p 56), accessed 13th July 2019
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/Filename.ashx?tableName=ta_yearbooks1914_22&columnName=filename&recordId=9>
[5] For details of No. 16975 John Coussmaker Anderson's see his service record: Library and Archives Canada, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), Reference RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 158 – 14, accessed 5th December 2023 <http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=pffww&id=8896&lang=eng>;
John C Anderson's war service with the British Columbia battalion is recorded in the Wellington Yearbook 1917, 'THE WAR' , p 18, accessed 13th July 2019
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/Filename.ashx?tableName=ta_yearbooks1914_22&columnName=filename&recordId=4>
John C Anderson's war service with the British Columbia battalion is recorded in the Wellington Yearbook 1917, 'THE WAR' , p 18, accessed 13th July 2019
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/Filename.ashx?tableName=ta_yearbooks1914_22&columnName=filename&recordId=4>
[6] Wellington College, Roll of Honour, 'Douglas Macclesfield Anderson', accessed 25th May 2023
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/RollofHonour.aspx?RecID=18&TableName=ta_rollofhonour&BrowseID=1140>
<https://memorial.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/RollofHonour.aspx?RecID=18&TableName=ta_rollofhonour&BrowseID=1140>
[7] The eight children of Francis and Mary Andrews were: Sarah Ann (b c 1848) James (b c 1849), John (b 1852), Catherine (b c 1854), William (b c 1856), Francis (b 1858), Robert (b c 1860) and Mary (b c 1864). The family had lived in Weatherly Square, Berwick-upon-Tweed, and later in nearby Narrow Lane. For pictures of Weatherly Square see: Jim Herbert, Berwick Time LInes, 'Weatherly Square', accessed 5th December 2023
<https://berwicktimelines.tumblr.com/post/42456060550/hello-jimwhat-do-you-know-about-weatherlie-square>
<https://berwicktimelines.tumblr.com/post/42456060550/hello-jimwhat-do-you-know-about-weatherlie-square>
[8] Coldstream, Coldstream War Memorial (roadside) - War Memorials Trust, War Memorials On-line, 'Coldstream War Memorial', accessed 13th April 2024
<https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/152134>
<https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/152134>
[9] Coldstream, St Mary's Episcopal Church Roll of Honour (transcript only) - The Scottish Military Research Group, Commemorations Project, 'Coldstream', accessed 1st August 2020 <http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic8209.html>
[10] No. 23/824, James William Atkinson is recorded in the Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 (National Army Museum) as 'Atkinson, James William alias Atchison'. In all other surviving military documentation he is 'Atkinson'. The entry for No. 23/824, James William Atkinson in Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919*, gives his place of birth as ‘Metherton Forfars’. ‘Metherton’ may simply be a misprint or mistake which should be read as ‘Netherton’. Netherton is located within what was the Rothbury Registration District. There is certainly no evidence for the birth of James William Atchison or Atkinson in Scotland at the relevant date. On the IWM Lives of the First World War website the entry for 'James William Atkinson, No. 824, Northumberland Fusiliers' (sic) is wrongly identified as a man who was born on 8th August 1892 at Wortley, (now South Yorkshire) and who later lived in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and who died in 1979 and was buried in Oxford.
(*Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 was published by HM Stationery Office as multi volume work after the war and lists the more than 700,000 men who died in the war).
(*Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 was published by HM Stationery Office as multi volume work after the war and lists the more than 700,000 men who died in the war).
[11] More detail of William George Locke Aynsley's family history can be found by searching for 'Aynsley' and 'No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station' in the search boxes of the name index of the website of The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, BIFHSGO, 'Search Name Index', accessed 18th May 2018, <https://www.bifhsgo.ca/search-name-index>.
[12] Northumberland Archives, Netherton Training School For Boys, accessed 20th June 2023
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/99322319@N07/albums/72157635274367340/>
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/99322319@N07/albums/72157635274367340/>
[13] The text of the officer's letter reporting George Balmer's death was published in [newspaper] and is reprinted on the website: Amble & District Local History, Men from North Northumberland killed, Wounded and Taken Prisoner, 'George Balmer', accessed 9th December 2020
<https://www.fusilier.co.uk/north_east_northumberland_ww1_great_war_casualties/ww1_index_1917.html>
<https://www.fusilier.co.uk/north_east_northumberland_ww1_great_war_casualties/ww1_index_1917.html>
[14] Peter Higginbotham, Children's Homes, 'The Industrial Ship 'Wellesley'' North Shields, County Durham', accessed 23rd June 2023
<https://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/TSWellesley/>
<https://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/TSWellesley/>
[15] The men who were killed alongside Bertie Barron, were No. 10433 Pte James Adams and No. 6904, Pte John James Shiel. One wounded man - No. 14779 Pte William James Miller - died of his wounds. The remaining wounded men were No. 13888 L/Cpl W G Scott, No. 11469 Pte George Hornsby, No. 10634 Pte David Moffitt, No. 13016 Pte George E Gibbons, No. 13125 Pte Thomas Donaghey, and No. 13106 Pte John E Thompson.
[16] War Memorial Trust, War Memorials Online, 'Private Bertram Reinfred Barron memorial, Kirk Michael', accessed 24th June 2023
<https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/233078/>
<https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/233078/>
[17] The 1911 census return is slightly confusing, especially given that both of Edward Blain’s wives were named Sarah. The census return was originally completed to read: ‘married 22 years, 7 children, 4 still alive, 3 died.’ This is scored through and was re-written to read ‘married 12 years, 7 children, 4 still alive, 3 died.’ We know that Edward and his first wife were married for almost 12 years and had 3 children still living; Edward and his second wife had been married for almost 15 years in 1911 and had one child living. The 1911 census shows that, in addition the four surviving children, Edward had been father to three further children who had died in infancy. The identity of the deceased children and their mother has not been established
[18] The 1911 Census return records that Charles and Elizabeth Blyth had had 11 children, 10 of whom were still living. It has been possible to identify with confidence only 9 of the 11 children, including their daughter Violet Blyth (b 1880, Eglingham), who died aged 18 in 1898. It has not been possible identify the two missing children. There is one complication, a granddaughter Sarah Jane Blyth (b 1902) is recorded in both the 1911 and 1921 censuses. She was baptised on 31st August 1902, and the baptism records state that ‘Elizabeth English’ was Sarah Jane’s mother was, which seems to imply that Elizabeth Blyth (née English) may have her mother rather than her grandmother. If this is the case, it is puzzle as to why it would have been necessary to record Sarah Jane as her ‘granddaughter’ rather than as her ‘daughter’.
[19] The location of Horton is not certain. The medical report attached to AndrewnBlyth's surviving discharged papers refers to his training for five months at ‘Horton, Newca[stle]’. The latter word is incomplete on the form with writing cramped up at the edge of document.). The 3/5th, 3/6th, 3/7th, 3/8th and 3/9th battalions DLI were formed ‘at home stations’ by June 1915, renamed as 5th to 9th reserve battalions in April 1916 at (?)Catteric. On 1st September 1916 the 5th battalion absorbed the other four battalions at (?)Newcastle. By October 1916 the 5th battalion was at (?)Redcar. (Information from Brigadier E.A.James, British Regiments 1914-18, 1929, 5th edition 1998, reprinted Naval & Military Press, p 101). See also Chris Baker, The Long, Long Trail website, 'Durham Light Infantry', accessed 11th July 2023, <http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/durham-light-infantry/> which has similar information with slight variations.
[20] If as reported in the Berwickshire News, James Brewis had served on Gallipoli, he would have served with the 8th (Service) battalion, which was the only Northumberland Fusiliers battalion to serve on Gallipoli. Recruitment of the 8th Northumberland Fusiliers, 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division, began in August 1914, and the battalion landed on Gallipoli on 6th/7th August 1915 and was evacuated on 19th/20th December 1915.
[21] It is possible, perhaps probable, that Wilson Brown enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers and was posted to the West Riding Regiment after training. This would explain why his photograph published in The Berwickshire News (29 October 1918, p 4) shows him with a Northumberland Fusilier cap badge. He is listed as 'Brown, Wm, Wooler, Sergt, West Ridings - MM.'
[22] Newcastle University and Durham University, Universities at War, 'Brown, W', accessed 16th March 2023
<http://www.universitiesatwar.org.uk/explore/brown-w>
<http://www.universitiesatwar.org.uk/explore/brown-w>
[23] Thomas Hall Bruce commemorated on his mother's headstone:
Elizabeth Bruce (d 1912): Find a Grave, St John the Baptist Churchyard, Lowick, 'Elizabeth Bruce', accessed 7th April 2024,
<https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145553037/elizabeth-bruce>
Elizabeth Bruce (d 1912): Find a Grave, St John the Baptist Churchyard, Lowick, 'Elizabeth Bruce', accessed 7th April 2024,
<https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145553037/elizabeth-bruce>
[24] The names of 11 possible children are recorded in Census returns from 1871 to 1911. The registrations of the births of ten children can be identified with some confidence. The missing child has not been identified through birth records, but Henry John Bryant (b 1867) may have had a twin brother Thomas John Bryant who died young: ‘Thom J Bryant' aged 14 was listed as a son of Edward J Bryant in the 1881 census, when the family were living in Elswick. 'Thom J' may simply be a mistake for Henry John since no other reference to Thomas John has been found. Also in the 1881 Census their mother Eliza Bryant was recorded as a ‘visitor’ staying with her widowed older sister Mrs Lydia Witherley (née King Church) at 34 Canonbury Park South, in Islington.
[25] Gerard King Bryant's address in correspondence after the war is variously ‘Governor Estate, Dominica, BWI’ and ‘Governor Estate, Marigot, Dominica, BWI’ [British West Indies] (Service Record TNA WO363).
[26] Dr Margaret Edith Elliott Smith, MB, BS London 1913 (London School of Medicine for Women) (Medical Directory 1915, p 1001). She had begun her training in 1907 (Medical Students Register, List of Students Registered during the year 1907, p 59). Dr Margaret Bryant (née Smith) had worked as house surgeon in the Northampton General Hospital and at the New Hospital for Women, Euston Road (The Medical Directory 1920, p 1637) and had studied for the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) in 1920 (The Medical Directory 1925, p 1666).
[27] The Yorkshire Regiment - First World War Remembrance, North Yorkshire Memorials, 'Redcar (Sir William Turner's Grammar School)', accessed 26th June 2023, <http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/redcar-william-turner.htm>
[28] War Memorials Trust, War Memorials Online, 'Sedbergh School Cloisters, 1914-1918 panel A-D', accessed 26th June 2023,
<https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/122005>
<https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/122005>
[29] Sir William Turner Foundation, Old Coathamians of World War One, 'Reginald Eyre Bryant', accessed 20th June 2023,
<https://www.sirwilliamturner.org.uk/remembrance/ww1/world-war-one/14-reginald-eyre-bryant-ww1>
<https://www.sirwilliamturner.org.uk/remembrance/ww1/world-war-one/14-reginald-eyre-bryant-ww1>