Blaydon Courier
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Alfred Lister, one of 4 children of whom all survived, was the youngest of 2 brothers, had 2 younger sisters, as declared in the 1911 census, however, he had 3 half-siblings from his father’s first marriage and 2 half-sisters from the second marriage.
His father Henry Lawson Lister born 1855 in the district of Lanchester married in 1869, district of Durham, to Mary Parkin, with whom he initially settled at Castleside, County Durham. Their daughter Margaret was born, October 12th 1874 at 317, Leadgate, Iveston, County Durham, Jane Ann 1877 at Wolsingham, Weardale as was Joseph in 1880. A year later they were living at Salter’s Gate, Brick Work Cottages, Wolsingham, where Henry was employed as a railway labourer. Sadly, during the 2nd quarter (April/May/Jun) of 1883 Henry lost not only his wife, aged 31 years, but also his son John Joseph only 3-years old.
Henry Lawson Lister remarried at St Margaret, Durham, in 1884, to Jane Ann Stokoe native of Stanhope also in County Durham, born 1853, who had two children of her own, Mary Jane, and Annie Theresa. Jane Ann had been living with her family prior to her marriage at Bank Foot, district of Muggleswick. After their marriage only Mary Jane came to live with them, Annie remained with her grandparents. Their son John Thomas Lister was born prior to their marriage, July 18th 1884, followed by Alfred in 1888 and Isabella, June 18th 1890. In 1891 they were living in the village of Rowley where Margaretta was born in 1892, Henry supported his family employed as a coal miner. By 1901 John Thomas (15) was employed on a farm as a carter, Alfred (13) was an office boy, living with them was Jane Ann’s widowed brother Richard, a mason’s labourer. Only Alfred (23) and his sister Madge (19) were living at home by 1911 with their parents, also a John Thomas Lister (3) listed as their grandson and two of Jane Ann’s brothers, Richard and John Stokoe.
When war was declared with Germany Alfred was living at 11, Knitsley Gardens, Templetown, with his parents, employed as a labourer. He enlisted at Consett, December 15th 1915 and posted to the Army Reserve. Mobilised January 2nd 1917 and sent to the barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne he joined the 80th Training Reserve Battalion of the 32nd (Reserve) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 19th Reserve Brigade, as Private 5/41853. His father died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1917 either before or soon after his departure from England. Training complete he departed for the front, June 11th 1917, from Southampton bound for Alexandria in Egypt where he transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Welsh Regiment June 20th as Private 59150, joining them in the field. As part of the 53rd Welsh Division by October 1917 the forces had been entrenched in front of a strong Turkish position along the Gaza-Beersheba road for months and were now ready to launch an attack on Beersheba as its first objective. October 31st the attack commenced carried out by the XXth Corps consisting of the 10th, 53rd, 60th and 74th Divisions and by evening the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade charged over the Turkish line into the town.
Private 59150 Alfred Lister was killed in action, November 3rd 1917 and interred at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza), grave C 17. As sole legitimate his mother Jane Ann received his effects, monies owed to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. She commissioned, at a cost of 14 shillings 3 pence, an additional inscription to be added to her son’s military headstone, it reads, “Ever Remembered By His Loving Mother Sisters And Brothers.” Private Lister was 29 years of age and single.
Alfred’s brother John Thomas Lister enlisted at the age of 31 years in 1916 assigned to the Northumberland Fusiliers, however, he was discharged due to ill-heath in July 1917
The inscription on Alfred’s headstone proves that he was aware of his father’s first marriage and the existence of half siblings although they had never been listed in any census together.
Details of his full blood siblings are as follows; John Thomas Lister married Alice Annie Graham and had 8 children all of whom reached adulthood with the exception of Hannah, 1916-1917 and Jean 1926-1940. Alice Annie Lister nee Graham died in 1948, John Thomas in 1961.
His sister Isabella was married during the war years in 1916 to James Edward Ord of Gateshead, who served with the Northumberland Fusiliers. They had 3 children Florence Isabella 1916-2006, Alfred Douglas 1921-1988 and Joseph 1926-1926. In 1939 they lived at 5, Temple Gardens, district of Lanchester, a few doors away from her brother John Thomas and his wife. James Edward was employed as a by-product plant engine fitter, Alfred as a pay clerk at the steel works. James Edward Ord died January 9th 1940 and possibly later that same year during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) also Isabella Ord nee Lister.
His sister Marjorietta (Madge) married Robert William Thompson born August 31st 1889, with whom she had 3 children, Robert William Jnr 1913-1970, Margaretta 1919-1920 and Stanley Roland 1923-2005. In 1939 they were living at Browney Bank, Robert William Snr (Billy) was County Blacksmith, his son Stanley assisted him. Robert William died October 1st 1946 listed in error as aged 60 years, he was in fact 57, Margaretta Thompson nee Lister June 29th 1961 aged 69 years. In St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard, Satley there is a family grave where they and their son Stanley Roland (Roy) are buried, also inscribed is Betty, daughter-in-law, his wife.
Details of half-siblings, mother Parkin, are as follows; Margaret Lister was born in 1874 and married in the district of Sunderland to Alfred Moss Saint with whom she had 2 children Robert 1898 and Annie 1900. They emigrated to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, August 15th 1900. Their son Henry was born in 1903, Alfred 1906 died 1907 and Margaret in 1908. Margaret Saint nee Lister died in 1912, Alfred Moss Saint in 1950, they are buried within Nambour Cemetery, Queensland, Australia.
Jane Ann Lister born 1877 died in 1891 and John Joseph Lister born 1880 died 1883.
Details of half-siblings, mother Stokoe, are as follows; Mary Jane born 1870, although she had taken the surname Lister married as Mary Jane Stokoe to Simon Elliott Robson in 1899, a railway goods checker. Their marriage was childless. Simon Elliott Robson died in 1938, Mary Jane Robson nee Stokoe in 1958.
Annie Theresa Stokoe born 1874 in the pension record of Alfred dated 1919 is listed as 45 years of age and living in Middlesbrough, without the addition of a surname.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
A remembrance notice was included in the Blaydon Courier 06/11/1920 which reads:
"In Loving memory of Pte. Alfred Lister, of Templetown, killed in Palestine, Nov. 3rd, 1916."
This should read 1917
Alfred Lister is remembered at Castleside on C113.01 and at Consett on C101.01
