Robert Craggs was born in 1886 at Cornsay Village, although his birth was registered under the surname Craggs his mother had been for many years a widow and married, coal miner, William Wall, ten years her junior in 1887, who may or may not have been Robert’s father.

Elizabeth Craggs in the census of 1881 is listed as a widow living at Cornsay with her 3 daughters, Mary Jane (5), Isabella Ann (4) and 1 year old Margaret Elizabeth. After the birth of Robert and her marriage to William Wall she gave birth to 2 daughters, Hannah born 1890 and Annie Virtue in 1891. By 1891 Mary Jane Craggs (15) was employed by the Disberry family of Satley as a domestic servant, as was her sister Isabella Ann (14) in the home of farmer John Alder of Cornsay. Elizabeth and William Wall and their daughters were living at Cornsay Colliery, Margaret Elizabeth (11) and Robert (5) were now listed with their other children under the surname Wall.

At the age of 15 Robert was employed as an agricultural labourer, one of 6 workers in various capacities, employed by George Richard John Green, of Satley, a farmer and auctioneer, however he had returned to his family home at Cornsay Village by 1911, employed along with William Wall at the colliery as a hewer, supporting his mother and Annie Virtue.

Robert died in the district of Lanchester, County Durham, aged 33 years, registered under the surname Craggs and is remembered on several local memorials as a casualty of war under the surname Wall. There is no entry with the CWGC for a Robert Wall/Craggs and in the absence of documentation it has not been possible to discover how he served his county during WW1.

The Consett and Stanley Chronicle 23/09/1921 reads:-

Robert Wall late of Cornsay Village who was Church Warden when he joined the Forces.

William Wall died aged 66 years, September 18th 1929, Elizabeth Wall-Craggs in 1935 aged 83 years, both registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Robert Wall is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 and at Satley on S116.01 and S116.04