Lancaster brothers' headstone
Arras Memorial
A headstone in St. Thomas' Churchyard Craghead reads:-
In loving memory of
Lance Cpl. J Lancaster
Who was killed in action
1st July 1916 aged 32 years
Also of Pte. A. Lancaster
Who was killed in action
29th April 1917 aged 24 years
Also of
Lance Cpl. C Lancaster
Who died from wounds
12th April 1918 aged 20 years
Sons of
William & Esther Lancaster
Also their grandson William
Who died 17th February 1916
Aged 2 years
They are gone bur not forgotten
Remembered by their Father Mother
Brothers & Sister
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur Lancaster was born 1893 in Craghead, Stanley, one of 7 children, 5 boys and 2 deceased (gender unknown), born to William Lancaster 1860 Durham and Esther Beatrice White 1858 Stanton, Gloucester. They were married July 13th 1884 in the parish of St. Mary-The-Less, St. Oswells, Durham City where they resided for several years at 19, Church Street Head, Elvet, later moving to 11 Beechgrove Terrace, Edmondsley. William Lancaster worked as a coal miner and in 1911 was living at Front Street, Craghead, his sons were also employed at the colliery with the exception of Charles who was a butcher at the Coop. Arthur was a twin his brother was called Alfred.
Arthur Lancaster enlisted in Newcastle upon Tyne during November 1914 assigned as Private 1046 Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Irish), 26th Battalion. In March 1915 they moved to Woolsington and together with the 24th,25th and 27th formed the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. The Division was taken over by the War Office August 27th 1915, moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France in January 1916 landing at Boulogne as part of the British Expeditionary Force. They were concentrated east of St Omer and were moved by train and march to the front seeing action for the first time during the defence of La Boiselle on the Somme, July 1st 1916, including also the Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres Ridge and Flers-Courcelette. The Arras Offensive began in 1917 and it was at the First Battle of the Scarpe, fought April 9th until May 4th 1917, that Private 1046 Arthur Lancaster Northumberland Fusiliers was killed April 29th 1917.
His sacrifice is recorded on the Arras Memorial, panel 2 and 3. The memorial commemorates the 34,795 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died from spring 1916 until August 17th 1918 and have no known grave. He was 24 years old and single.
He had nominated his mother Esther as his sole beneficiary, as such she received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Three of his brothers also served. Lance Corporal 406 James Lancaster serving in the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916 on the Somme. Lance Corporal 267367 CharlesLancaster 1st/6th Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds April 12th 1918, and John William Lancaster who survived the war.
William Lancaster died in 1945 preceded by his wife Esther in 1940
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Arthur Lancaster is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 C120.02 and C120.04
