James Edward Ord, one of 7 known children, was the 2nd born of 4 brothers, he had 2 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Joseph Raine Ord (aka Neil, census 1871) was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1887 and married Elizabeth McCombie born 1840/41, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, affectionately known as Eliza. Eliza lived in 1851 with her parents at Queens Place, Greenside, Edinburgh, her father James employed as a hotel waiter. Her mother Christina McCombie nee Copland died in 1861 and having left Scotland Eliza settled at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where she and Joseph Raine were married at Newcastle in 1863. By 1871 they had 3 children Christina (5), Mary Elizabeth (4) and George Henry (2) born 1866, 1867 and 1869 at Gateshead, County Durham, and were living at Park House Cottages, her husband employed at the chemical works as a joiner. Also in the household was her brother James McCombie (15) who joined them after the death of his father in 1868, employed as a labourer. Over the next 10 years they had a further 4 children. James Edward was born, July 16th 1872 at Park Houses Cottages, Gateshead, as was, Edith Isabel 1875, Joseph Raine Jnr 1878 and Ernest Douglas in 1881. Joseph Raine in 1881 was employed as a joiner and his brother-in-law James (25) now worked at the colliery as a bank-rider. James Edward was still living at home with the family in 1891 as was his sister Christina who had married in 1888 at St. James, Gateshead, to James Eckford, a general labourer, however they had set up home for their own account over the next 10 years. Joseph Raine was still employed as a joiner in 1901 and had taken into his home his widowed daughter Mary Elizabeth Bowman and her two children, Thomas (9) and Elizabeth (5), after the death of her husband John Morton Bowman in 1898. With the help of her mother, looking after the home and children, Mary Elizabeth had taken employment along with her sister Ethel as an electric light worker, Ernest Douglas worked as brick layer.

Also living in the household was Edith Ord born October 27th 1893 and Mary Eleanor, January 1897, the children of James Edward and his first wife Mary Eleanor Hewitson. Married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1893 unfortunately Mary Eleanor had died, aged 26 years, in 1899, at Gateshead, County Durham.

The early 1900s brought great joy to the Ord family as Edith Ord was married in 1902 to Robert Brown and her widowed sister Mary Elizabeth remarried in 1903 to Robert Forster Place, native of Gosforth, Northumberland. This was marred during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1906 as Eliza Ord nee McCrombie died aged 64 years, and Joseph Raine Ord aged 74 years during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1911, both deaths registered at Gateshead, Co. Durham.

There is no clear indication as to the whereabouts of James Edward Ord between 1899 and 1911, however it would appear he had married for a second time. Living in 1911 as a boarder at 1, Holdforth Crescent, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, the home of Robert Golightly and family, employed as a colliery fitter, he declared to be widowed, to have had 4 children of whom only 3 had survived. Presumably he was referring to his children from his first marriage and daughter Sarah Violet Irene aged 5 years, born August 12th 1905, who was living with him.

Upon the outbreak of war with Germany James Edward Ord was living in the district of Lanchester and, despite his age of 42 years, about which he may not have been entirely honest, was one of the first to enlist in November 1914, possibly at Consett, assigned to the newly formed 22nd Battalion (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 771, joining his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. After initial training near Newcastle the troops were moved to a camp within the grounds of Alnwick Castle in early May 1915, later joining the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, at Ripon in Yorkshire. In late August they transferred to Salisbury Plain to begin final training, prior to his departure in January 1916 Private Ord was married in the district of Lanchester to Isabella Lister, born June 18th 1890, 18 years his junior.

The division proceeded to France in January 1916, concentrating near La Crosse, east of St. Omer. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions Tyneside Scottish underwent a period of trench familiarisation before being made ready for the opening attack at La Boiselle near Albert. Planned for the morning of June 29th it was delayed by bad weather until July 1st 1916. At 7.28 two huge mines were detonated under the German lines to the north and south of the village and when the whistles sounded at 7.30 the men went over the top. The 3rd Tyneside Scottish followed the 2nd across 200 yards of no-mans-land and they lost 20 officers and 628 men.

Whilst at the front Private Ord received the news that his wife had given birth to a daughter Florence Isabella, born during the 3rd quarter, (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1916.

Having moved from the Somme to the Arras sector in 1917 the division fought during the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe and the Battle of Arleux during the Arras Offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917 and involved in fighting at Hargicourt during August and in October transferred to the Ypres salient in Belgium participating during 3rd Battle of Ypres, which raged from July 31st-November 10th 1917, October 22nd when the 34th Division attacked north of Poelcappelle between the streams Watervlietbeek and Broenbeek.

When the Germans attacked once again on the Somme in March 1918 they returned to France, in action during the Battle of St Quentin before returning to Belgium seeing action in the Battle of Estaires, Bailleul, the 1st Battle of Kemmel Ridge all phases of the Battle of Lys, and suffered heavy casualties. May 17th 1918 the 22nd Battalion was reduced to cadre strength and returned to England awaiting reinforcements. This was achieved by absorbing into their ranks the new 38th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, joining the 48th Battalion, 16th (Irish) Division. They returned to France and fought in the Final Advance at Artois.

After the declaration of the Armistice, Private Ord returned to England and posted to Class Z Reserve, free to return to his civilian life but under the obligation of returning to the Colours should hostilities with Germany resume. Class Z was abolished, June 28th 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which brought WW1 officially to a close. Awards British War Medal and Victory Medal.

James Edward’s brother Ernest Douglas also served during WW1 as Sergeant 342 with the 17th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and is at rest within Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, Nord, France. His brother-in-law Private 59150 Alfred Lister serving with the Welsh Regiment was killed in action in Palestine, November 3rd 1917, his brother Private 7510 John Thomas Lister 2/5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who did not serve overseas was discharged due to ill-heath.

Post war his wife gave birth to a further 2 children, Alfred Douglas born August 27th 1921 and Joseph during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar)1926, who unfortunately died within 3 months. They were living at Temple Gardens in 1939, a few doors away from Isabella’s brother John Thomas Lister. James Edward was employed as an engine fitter at the by-product plant, Alfred Douglas (18) worked as a pay clerk at the steel works, also in the household was Florence Isabella and her husband Joseph William Herdman, born at Lanchester, August 6th 1910, whom she had married in 1934. Joseph William Herdman died in 1977 at Peterborough, aged 66 years as did Florence Isabella Herdman nee Ord in 2006 aged 90 years.

Son Alfred Douglas Ord married in 1945 to Joyce Reed, born August 14th 1922 at Hartlepool, County Durham. Alfred died at Castleside, Consett, County Durham, November 16th 1988 aged 67 years, details as regards Joyce Ord nee Reed, unknown.

Sarah Violet Isabella Ord married at Scarborough, Yorkshire in 1938 to George G Gray born, April 19th 1906. In 1939 they were living at Hestobel Gardens, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, where George had his own haulage company. They employed 2 domestic servants, widow Lily Queen and her daughter Marjorie. Further details unknown.

Details as regards Edith and Mary Eleanor Ord, mother Hewitson, as yet unknown.

James Edward Ord died, January 29th 1940, aged 67 years, Isabella Ord nee Lister may also have died in 1940, both registered in the district of Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

James Edward Ord is not remembered on a local War Memorial.