Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Douglas Ord, one of 7 known children, was the youngest of his siblings, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. 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 Ord 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, March 2nd 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 (20) 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, both in Gateshead. This was marred during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1906 as Eliza Ord nee McCombie died aged 64 years and Joseph Raine Ord aged 74 years died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1911, both deaths registered at Gateshead, Co. Durham.
When war was declared with Germany in August 1914 Ernest Douglas was still living in Gateshead, County Durham and may have been employed by the railways. He enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1914 assigned to the 17th (Service) Battalion (North Eastern Railways) Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals Battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Armies, which became a Pioneer Battalion in January 1915. As Private 342, he joined his regiment at Catterick where they were assigned to the 32nd Division in June 1915. Taken over by the War Office, September 1st 1915, training complete, Private Ord departed with his regiment, November 20th 1915, attached to the Divisional Troops of the 32nd Division, bound for France, landing the following day at Le Havre. As Pioneers they would have been assigned to digging new and repairing old trenches and keeping open the lines of communication. In January 1916 they transferred to GHQ as Railway Construction Troops until rejoining the 32nd Battalion, September 2nd 1917, before returning to GHQ as previously, November 15th 1917. May 31st 1918 they transferred to the Divisional Troops of the 52nd (Lowlands) Division.
Unfortunately, the war record of this soldier has not been found, however, Private Ord during his service rose to the rank of Sergeant. At the time of his demise he was with the Railway Construction Troops who came under constant shelling and gunfire to impede the advancement of their work. Sergeant 342 Ernest Douglas Ord was wounded and taken back through the lines by the Field Ambulance to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station which had just arrived at Ebblinghem April 18th 1918.
Sergeant 17/342 Ernest Douglas Ord, Northumberland Fusiliers succumbed to wounds sustained April 20th 1918 and interred at Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, Nord, France, grave II. A. 23. He was 38 years of age and single.
All monies owed to him by the Army were distributed amongst his siblings, Mrs Christina Eckford, Mrs Mary E. Brown, Mrs Edith Place and brothers George Henry, James Edward and Joseph Raine Jnr. His sisters received 4 pounds 14 shillings 8 pence, his brothers 4 pounds 14 shillings 9 pence each.
His brother George Henry Ord of 24, Christopher Street, Gateshead on Tyne, commissioned on behalf of the family, at a cost of 14 shillings, an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “The Path Of Duty Was The Way To Glory Ever Remembered By All.”
Ernest Douglas’s brotherJames Edward also served during WW1 as Private 771 with the 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and survived the conflict. James Edward’s 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 discharge due to ill-heath.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Ernest Douglas Ord is possibly remembered at Gateshead on G39.024 as D. Ord.
