Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Alexander Loughran was born in Killyharry Glebe, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, October 4th 1890, son of farmer Joseph Loughran and Esther Davidson, born circa 1846 and 1855 in County Tyrone. Educated at Kilnaslie Church School, Dungannon, exactly when he left Northern Ireland is unknown, however, Alexander was married in the Church of St. Andrew, Blackhill, County Durham, March 24th 1910, to Charlotte Esther Young nee Elsom. Charlotte Esther, widow of Tom Scarth Young, was 10 years his senior, born June 6th 1880, in Ebchester, County Durham, she was the mother of 2 children, Henry born November 22nd 1903 and Thomas Scarth Young, December 11th 1905, and had been living prior to their marriage at “Inglenook” Oakwood Road, Blackhill, County Durham. In 1911 they occupied 2 rooms at 51, Benfieldside Road, Blackhill, with Henry whilst Thomas was in the care of his maternal aunt. Alexander supported his family employed as a coal hewer and also worked as a shot firer.
After the declaration of war, August 4th 1914, he enlisted in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, September 10th 1914, one of almost 500,000 volunteers who came forward to form new battalions required by all Army regiments. As Private 15403 he was assigned to the 14th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, joining his regiment at Aylesbury which with the 15th Battalion D.L.I. training at Halton Park, formed the 64th Brigade, 21st Division. Bad weather, lack of uniforms, rifles and officers, training was little more than drill, until December 1914 when they were moved to High Wycombe and issued in April 1915 with khaki uniforms, rifles and kit. Having returned to newly built huts at Halton Park for final training the 14th and 15th Battalion D.L.I. departed to France, September 10th 1915 landing at Boulogne the following day. Still inexperience and without any nursery training they were marched to the British front line and sent into battle at Loos, September 25th 1915, the first major British offensive on the Western Front. Driven back by machine gun fire the 14th Battalion D.L.I. lost almost 300 men, killed or wounded.
At the end of November 1915 the 14th Battalion was transferred to the 6th Division, spending a cold and miserable winter in the trenches of the Ypres salient in Belgium. Private Loughran had risen to the rank of Corporal and was now in charge of a company of bomb throwers. The bomb throwers were coached in the art of throwing with accuracy as a mistake on their part could kill their own men.
Corporal Loughran was wounded and brought to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station near the front line Ypres battlefield at Lijssenthoek. Out of the range of German artillery it was suitable for establishing Casualty Clearing Stations and also the 15th French Evacuation Hospital. Corporal 15403 Alexander Loughran died May 10th 1916, Chaplain Captain W. Archer wrote of him, “He was brought in this morning badly wounded and unconscious, and though everything was done, he passed away about six o’clock this evening.”
Interred with military honours within Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Corporal Loughran is at rest, grave VI. C. 43. He was 25 years of age.
His widow was informed of his death May 21st and received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at her father Henry William Elsom’s holding at East Law Farm, Ebchester, County Durham. Charlotte Esther, having proved that Alexander had supported not only her but also her children, was awarded a pension of 21 shillings 6 pence as of November 22nd 1916, consisting of 18 shilling a week for herself and Henry until November 22nd 1919, the remainder, 3 shilling and 6 pence was sent weekly to her sister Mrs Alice Mary Elsom of Stickle Heaton Farms, Cornhill-on-Tweed, guardian of Thomas Scarth Young, until December 11th 1921, when both children would have turned 16-years of age.
Charlotte Esther remarried in 1918, district of Lanchester, County Durham, to John Edward Walton born in Blackhill, County Durham, December 16th 1874. In 1939 they were living in a shared property at 2, White Hemmels, Riding Mill, Northumberland. Charlotte is listed as a caretaker, John a retired joiner.
Charlotte Esther Walton-Louqhran-Young nee Elsom died in Northumberland in 1966, aged 85-years, her son Henry Young in 1968, Thomas Scarth Young in 1985, both registered in County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Alexander Loughran is remembered at Ebchester on E58.01, at Hamsterley Colliery on H140.03 and at Medomsley on M36.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page114 as Longhran
