Lancashire Landing Cemetery
Photo: Charles Sale G.P.R.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Edward Suddes, one of 6 known children was the 3rd born of 5 sons and had 1 elder sister. His father William Suddes was born May 15th 1864 at Edmondsley, County Durham, he married Hannah Isabella Tulip born March 24th 1865, native of Ovingham, Northumberland, at Gateshead, County Durham in 1887. They settled at Lanchester where daughter Annie was born in 1888 and Joseph in 1890 while they were living at Cornsay where William was a loader at the coke ovens. Over the next 10 years they had a further 4 children, James born 1892, George Edward 1895, William 1896 and Thomas May 10th 1899. While they were residing at the New Inn, Hamsteels, where William Snr was the licences victualler their son James aged 8 years died, April 4th 1900 and tragedy struck the family again, May 14th 1902 when Hannah Isabella Suddes nee Tulip died aged only 37 years. She is at rest within Hamsteels, St John the Baptist churchyard. Less than 6 months later William Suddes remarried to Dorothy Ann Murtaugh nee Storey, of Tow Law, County Durham, born January 10th 1864, the widow of Daniel Patrick Murtaugh who had died 3 years earlier. Living at 17, Chapel Street, Quebec, in 1911 William Snr still employed at the coke ovens was assisted by son George (16) employed as a labourer at the colliery in order to support his wife, William Jnr (13) and Thomas (11) to increment the family income they had taken in a lodger, coke filler, George Bird, 44 years of age and single.
In 1914 George Edward was living at Langley Moor, employed as a butcher and enlisted September 2nd 1914 in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms, assigned firstly to the Durham Light Infantry. Such was the initial surge of volunteers there was soon an excess of men once the initial battalions were formed. August 16th 1914 Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty decided to create two more brigades of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, 8 battalions that were named after naval commanders, Drake, Benbow, Hawke, Collingwood, Nelson, Howe, Hood and Anson. Ex-Private Suddes was transferred September 9th 1914 to Hood Battalion Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as Able Seaman KX556. Whilst still in England George Edward was married, October 18th 1914, at the Registry Office, Gateshead, County Durham, to Lydia May Spoors born May 31st 1897, of Mill Street, Dunston, Whickham. George Edward must have had Territorial experience as he departed with Hood Battalion in 1914, however, he returned to England suffering with a back strain and did not re-join his unit until August 11th 1915.
During his absence as part of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division Hood along with Howe and Anson had departed to Egypt where they resumed training and in particular getting acclimatised which included field marches. May 25th 1915 they received orders they would be moving to the frontline and left Mundros for Cape Helles on the Gallipoli peninsular.
Having re-joined his unit and while he was at the supply camp on the island of Tenedos, February 24th 1916, Able Seaman KX556 George Edward Suddes was found dead in camp. His death was attributed to valvular disease of the heart and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Initially buried at Tenedos Paraskey Cemetery, his remains were exhumed April 15th 1919 and brought into Lancashire Landing Cemetery, memorial reference L.80. At the time of his demise in 1916 Able Seaman Suddes was 21 years of age, he and Lydia did not have any children.
Lydia May received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Findon Hill Square, Sacriston, County Durham.
Widowed at the age of only 20 years of age Lydia May remarried aged 22 years, April 6th 1918, at Sacriston Parish Church, to serving soldier Private Thomas Waugh, born at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, in 1894. Once demobilised Thomas and Lydia May had 7 children between 1921 and 1935, 3 sons and 4 daughters. In 1939, although listed as married Lydia May was living at 11, George Street, with her son John, born July 28th 1923, a driver below ground. Thomas Waugh died, June 11th 1966 aged 73 years, his widow Lydia May Waugh-Suddes nee Spoors, aged 72 years, July 20th 1968. They are at rest within St. Philip and St. James’ Churchyard, Kimblesworth, County Durham.
Seven months after the demise of George Edward, his brother Private William Suddes was killed in action on the Somme, Joseph Suddes and Thomas Suddes also enlisted, however, they did not serve overseas.
There is a William Suddes Snr listed as incapacitated and living at the Lanchester Public Assist Institution in 1939 and a death entry for the 4th quarter 1939 of a William Suddes aged 76 years, this may well be William’s father.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Edward Suddes is remembered at Quebec on Q2.06 and at Esh Laude on E73.01
