In Shincliffe (St, Mary) Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of :-
WR/26725 Sapper
J.J. Laidler
Royal Engineers
27th October 1918 Age 32
Greater Love
Hath no man than this
That he giveth his life
For his friends
He was the son of T. and I. Laidler and the husband of Christina Laidler, of 6, Pond Street, Shincliffe. He was born at Swinton, Berwickshire.
Soldiers Died in the Great War states that he was born in Coldstream, enlisted in Newcastle on Tyne and lived in Hexham. He formerly served with 310th R.C.C.
David Thompson has submitted the following:-
Joseph John Laidler was born about 1886 at Coldstream, Berwickshire, Scotland, the son of Thomas (b.1865) and his wife Isabella (b.1862) who were both born in Berwickshire.
In 1891, Laidler was living with his parents, younger sister Jane (b.1888; who became Jane Humble and who was living at Pottergate, Alnwick at the time of her brother’s death) and brother William (b.1891; on the Statement of Names and Addresses of Relatives, William’s address was given as c/o Wilson, Holgate and Co. Ltd., Colombo, Ceylon, now Sri Lanka) at Humebank, Eccles, Berwickshire. His father was a Shepherd.
By 1901 the family were living at Hensel House, Glanton, Northumberland and there were two more children – Thomas Jnr.(b.1893) and Helen Jane (b.1898; who married to become Helen Jane Houliston and who was living at Whittingham Lane, Whittingham at the time of her brother’s death). Thomas Snr., according to the census, was then a Farmer. Unusually, Laidler, at the age of 15, was still a scholar.
In the 3rd Quarter 1909 Laidler appears to have married Mary Ann Charlton (b.1876; at Belford, Northumberland). In 1911 they were living with her father, George Charlton (b. about 1848; at Belford; a Farm Labourer) at Lilburn Lower Farm, West Lilburn, Northumberland.
Laidler was 25, his wife was 35, and he worked as a Traction Engine Driver at a Sawmill.
His parents and brother Thomas were living at Middleton Hall, not far from Lilburn.
That first marriage was clearly of short duration, quite why that should have been goes beyond the scope of this study. What is known is that, on 25 April 1915, Laidler married Christina Morton. They lived at 6, South View, Acomb, Hexham. They had a daughter, Margaret Ellen, born on 12 February 1917.
Before Laidler’s death the family had moved from Acomb to 6, Pond Street, Shincliffe Bank Top, County Durham.
Enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne.
Laidler’s Army Service Records are available via Ancestry.co.uk.
His Short Service Attestation form was completed on 11 December 1915. He gave his occupation as a Steam Roller Driver, and his address as 6, South View, Acomb, Hexham.
Laidler saw Home service from December 1915.
The proximate cause of death was as the result of an accident however the actual cause of death was Influenza, which developed into Pneumonia.
Notwithstanding some records are largely indecipherable, on 5 August 1918 Laidler was hit by a car which caused serious skeletal injuries. He was admitted to hospital on 10 August. Several fractured ribs were identified, and there’s an inference there may have been damage to at least one lung. Whatever, on admission there was evidence of Bronchitis.
Throughout his hospitalisation Laidler was weak. Although he appeared to rally at one point, towards the end of September his temperature readings increased to 100 degrees plus. On 18 October he was diagnosed with Influenza and had a temperature of 103 degrees. By 24 October Pneumonia had developed, thereafter he steadily became weaker and his breathing more laboured.
The Newcastle Journal 30/10/1918 reports:-
LAIDLER. —At 4th Northern hospital Lincoln, aged 32 Sapper J.J. Laidler, 26725, died of wounds received in France, dearly beloved husband of Christina Laidler, 13, Avenue Street, Shincliffe Bank Top (late Acomb, Hexham, and the North). To interred at Shincliffe Thursday, 3 p.m
Joseph John Laidler is remembered in Shincliffe on S123.02, in Glanton on G4.02, which states that he died as the result of an accident and in Alnwick Gazette Almanack page 41.
