Ration Farm Military Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Disberry was one of 3 children, 2 sons and a daughter, born to Joseph Disberry of Satley, County Durham, born 1870 and Mary Dawson born 1868 at Shotley, near Hexham in Northumberland. His parents married in the district of Hexham in 1890, newly married they were living with Mary’s parents Edward and Catherine Dawson at Burn Hill, Shotley Low Quarter where Joseph was employed as a labourer at the flour mill. Their eldest son John Edward was born in 1892, William 1894 and Catherine in 1900. William’s parents and siblings in 1901 were still living at Burn Hill, William however was a visitor along with his widowed grandmother Catherine in the home of George and Harriet Rochester at 7, Townley Cottage West, Ryton, County Durham.
By 1911 John Edward Disberry had left home, William now 17 years of age was employed as a farm labourer, his father Joseph who worked briefly at the flour mill at Shotley was now employed as a wood man, Catherine (10) attended school whilst her mother was a housewife.
When war broke out William was one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 5th 1914 and was assigned as Private 928 to the 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers. After initial training in Newcastle they were moved during May 1915 to Alnwick Camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. By mid-1915 they had transferred to Ripon in Yorkshire where they were attached to the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division and late August had moved to Salisbury Plain for final training.
They departed to France in January 1916 concentrating near La Crosse, east of St. Omer. At the opening battle on the Somme at La Boiselle the 2nd and 3rd Tyneside Scottish Battalions were in support of the 1st Tyneside Scottish who attacked just south of La Boiselle at 07.28 am on July 1st 1916. They crossed 200 yards of No Man’s Land with the loss of 20 Officers and 625 men. They were involved for the remainder of the period of the Battles of the Somme in general day to day trench warfare and did not participate at any other major battles until 1917.
Private 22/928 William Disberry (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action October 2nd 1916 and was one of the original casualties to be interred at Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-D’Armentieres, Nord, France, grave II. B. 11. The cemetery was expanded after the Armistice when casualties were brought in from smaller cemeteries and isolated spots on the battlefield. Private Disberry was 22 years old and single.
His father Joseph Disberry received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at his home address of 32, Wylam Street, Craghead, County Durham. He commissioned at a cost of 10 shillings 6 pence an additional inspiration to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Greatly Loved and Deeply Mourned.”
William’s brother John Edward Disberry also served during WW1 firstly as Private 176 28th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers then transferred to the Royal Engineers as Private 306391 and WR/275722. He survived the conflict and died in 1968.
The death of Joseph Disberry aged 69 years in 1938 was preceded by that of his wife Mary Disberry-Dawson in 1934 aged 66 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Disberry is remembered at Satley on S116.01 and at Cornsay on C116.01
