Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Ormston was born 1897 in South Hetton, County Durham, one of 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls, of whom 3 died at an early age, Michael, Susan and Sarah. His father Joseph Ormston was a coal miner-hewer born 1868 in Sunderland, he married, September 1888 in the district of Sunderland to Susan Owens born 1869 in Murton, County Durham.
By the age of 14 Edward was working at the pit as a pony driver but September 13th 1916, at the age of 19, he enlisted and was assigned as Able Seaman Z/7433 to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. After training in England he was drafted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, February 16th 1916, firstly arriving in Egypt and then on to Gallipoli. He was assigned to Nelson Battalion for two days and was transferred for almost three weeks to the Divisional Train. This was a unit of the Army Service Corp which provided horse-drawn transport. British troops were evacuated from Gallipoli and sent as reinforcements to France. He re-joined Nelson Battalion in France, July 4th 1916 and was again transferred to the Divisional Train re-joining his battalion over one year later July 25th 1917. Attached to the 63rd Division, Nelson Battalion fought on the Western Front during the Second Battle of Passchendaele 1917. December 29th 1917 he was taken by the 149th Field Ambulance for treatment, re-joining his battalion 5 days later. February 1918 he was transferred to the 7th Entrenching Battalion, then back, this time assigned to “A” Company Hawke Battalion, one week prior to being engaged in the First Battle of the Somme, March 21st-April 5th 1918.
Able Seaman Z7433 was missing, presumed killed in action, March 27th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded on Bay 1, Arras Memorial to the Missing, Arras, France. The memorial commemorates the 34,785 officers and men from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the sector between spring 1916 and August 7th 1918 and have no known grave.
His father, living at 31, Railway Street, Craghead received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
Edward Ormston is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at Stanley St. Joseph's S135.03
