Son of Georgina Carson, of Shotley Bridge, Co. Durham.
Paul Heatherington has submitted the following:-
John was born on the 15th April 1885 at 2 Mount Street, Sculcoates, Hull. His father was John Milligan Carson, a stone mason, born in Kirkcudbright. His mother was Georgina Gordon Carson, born in Aberdeen. John had two older sisters, Jane and Susannah. His younger sister and brother were Georgina and Samuel. When John was very young, the family had lived for a time in Walkden, Lancashire.
By 1891, they were living in Harton, South Shields and, by 1901, at 60 Wood Street in Shotley Bridge. At this time, John was employed as a butcher’s apprentice.
John’s father died in 1906. In 1911, John, Georgina and Samuel were living with their mother at 12 Wood Street. John was now a bricklayer, Georgina was working as a sack repairer in the flour mill and Samuel was a general labourer.
John enlisted at Jarrow as a Corporal in the Royal Engineers. His brother also enlisted, and he lost an arm in battle, but survived the war. John died of wounds in France on the 4th July 1918. He was awarded the Military Medal.
From the WW1 Pension Cards at some point Georgina Carson lived at 1 Memorial Cottages, Shotley Bridge.
Shotley Bridge War Memorial Cottages
The cottages were opened in a ceremony on 7 September 1921 attended by Mrs. F. Priestman, who presented a copper kettle to each of the new occupants. John’s mother, Mrs Georgina Gordon Carson, lived in one of the cottages. John Gordon Carson was Sheila Tucker’s Great Uncle and Susannah Glendinning née Carson was her grandmother. Sheila still has the kettle given to her Great Grandmother.(2018)
The Newcastle Journal 19/09/1918 reports:-
Shotley Bridge Send Off Fund
The Shotley Bridge Send off Fund last evening made a presentation of an illuminated address to Second Lieutenant G. Richardson R.G.A., in recognition of his having been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and also a gold watch to Mrs Carson, widow whose son Sergt. J. Carson R.E. had won the Military Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal but who has since died of wounds. Mr S. Annandale presided and Mr Lewis Priestman made the presentation.
John Gordon Carson is remembered at Shotley Bridge on S27.01 and S27.03
