Edward Duff
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Duff was born in Etherley in 1896, the eldest son and one of six children, 2 boys and 4 girls, born to Robert Duff (1870 - June 24th 1937) and Etty Williams of Wilton Park, Durham, who married in 1894 in County Durham. His father had been a coal miner but by 1911 was retired due to a disability. Edward who was only 15 years old was also a coal miner working as a driver of the horses leading the coals from the crane to the shaft.
He enlisted in Ferry Hill joining the 1st Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers as Private 18684 Edward Duff. Edward’s full military record does not exist however his regiment served in Helles, Gallipoli and Egypt 1914 - 1916 before it returned to England and only arrived in Marseilles, March 18th 1916 to take up service in France. Private Edward Duff was killed in action July 20th 1916 and has no known grave. He is commemorated on Pier and Face 4A & D on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France. At the time of his death his family were living at 8 Albion St., Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor.
The headstone of the family grave, along with the names of his parents, bears the words, “also of Edward their son Kings Own Scottish Borderers fell in the Great War 20th July 1916 aged 21.”
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Duff is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
