Private Norman Richardson, Red Row

[Coquet]

We have been sent scans of the war medal, photographs and documents relating to 14592 Private Norman Richardson, 8th Northumberland Fusiliers.
Norman was from 58 Swarland Terrace, Red Row, and was killed in action on the 16th August 1917, near Ypres. He was originally buried at Ferdinand Farm but was reinterred at Irish Farm Cemetery in 1921.

These items are now in the care of a family member who would be interested if anyone has any further information on Norman.

[janwhin]

What sort of information about Norman Richardson are the family after Coquet?

[Coquet]

Anything I think Janwhin. I'm sure there will be a reference in the Gazette regarding his death which I might find at some point.

Do you know if this area featured in the Morpeth newspaper back then? Chevington is sort of in the middle. Morpeth - Alnwick.

[janwhin]

Morpeth Herald would cover it but just checked coverage on the newspaper archive for C20th:

Herald - up to 1909 and then 1940-1949;

Alnwick Mercury (but really Alnwick & County Gazette at this point) - 1912 only;

Newcastle Journal - 1910-1916.

It's creeping forwards slowly.

[janwhin]

Norman Richardson born 1888 in Byker, the son of John, an iron moulder and a Lavinia, according to census, but can't find a marriage. Lavinia dies before 1891 and John remarries, in 1900, an Isabella Gill. Couldn't find a death for Lavinia either but a Wilhelmina ticked all the right boxes There were three children of the first marriage, including Norman and three from the second.
In 1891 he is living with parents at 29 Wolseley Road, Byker; 1901 with father, stepmother and siblings at 114 Laurel Street, Wallsend.
1911 he is a coal miner, lodging at Cross Row, South Broomhill.

Marries Maggie Hervey in 1912 and has two children, John W in 1913 and Minnie I in 1915.
Widow Maggie marries Andrew Thompson in 1920.

[Coquet]

Great work as ever.

There's a reasonable chance then he never lived at Red Row and left for the war from that mysterious place "South Broomhill", but I suppose it depends where they set up home in 1912. Could be the Swarland Terrace address. Soldiers Died doesn't give a residence, just 'born Newcastle, enlisted Amble'.

[janwhin]

I was at Woodhorn today and in the St John Chevington registers so thought I'd have a look for any more on Norman Richardson.
He married Meggie Harvey (sometimes it's Maggie and sometimes Hervey), daughter of William a signalman, on 1 January 1912. Norman was a miner of Cross Row, son of John a moulder. Meggie was of Station Cottages. The two children were John William born 21 December 1912 at Togston Terrace and Minnie Isabella born 29 January 1915 at Togston Crescent.
Meggie married Andrew Thompson on 12 June 1920, she was at Togston Crescent and he was a miner of Swarland Terrace.
Meggie died 24 May 1960 at Bothal Cottages, Ashington and Andrew on 20 May 1979 at 56 Coupland Road, Ashington. Both were buried at Chevington.

[Coquet]

Wonderful Janwhin. So he was likely to be living at the opposite end of the parish than we might have suspected.
Amazing that we have to do a Sherlock Holmes to find out about these guys!

[janwhin]

Nice to see a person emerging though. Swarland Terrace seems to have been the address of his widow after she remarried. Her husband Andrew Thompson gave Swarland Terrace as his home on the marriage.