Photo: Brian Pirrie
26/661 Private
W. Rutherford
Northumberland Fusiliers
4th September 1916.
William Kirby has submitted the following:-
William was born in 1879 at Pelton Fell the son of George and Elizabeth Rutherford.
In 1904 he married Margaret Temple in the Chester le Street area.
In 1911 William a Coal Miner Hewer and Margaret were living in two rooms at 64 West Street Grange Villa. Their family consisted of Elizabeth Ellen (5 born Beamish), George William (4 born West Pelton), Harriet (3 born West Pelton) and Henry (10 months born Grange Villa). Living with them as boarders were Ellen Temple (49 a widow) and Florence May Temple (3) possibly Margaret's mother and sister.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Rutherford enlisted in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 1914, declaring he was a coal miner. Assigned as Private 661 Northumberland Fusiliers, 25th Service Battalion, 2nd Tyneside Irish attached to the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division he landed in France, January 1916. His military record no longer exists one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, we do know however that he was later transferred to the 26th Battalion. Wounded, date and locality, unknown, he was shipped back to England.
Private 661 William Rutherford Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds at Woolwich September 4th 1916. He is interred, north of the church, in the churchyard of St. Paul’s, West Pelton, County Durham.
The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 15/09/1916 reports:-
The remains of the late Pte. Rutherford, N.F. whose widow and family of six children live at West Street Grange Villa were interred at the West Pelton Churchyard on Saturday with full military honours. There was a firing party from the regiment of the deceased and the West Pelton band was in attendance. The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. E.J. Taylor.
His wife Margaret received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Rutherford is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at West Pelton on W112.01
