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Wimereux Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Nicholas Waugh was born 1880 at Page Bank, Willington, County Durham, one of 9 children he was the 3rd born of 6 brothers and had 2 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Robert Waugh was born at Gilesgate Moor, Durham in 1851 and married in 1873 to Jane Cox of Sherburn Hill, Durham born 1847. They settled at Page Bank, Stockley where Robert was employed as a coal miner, ten years later he was joined at the colliery by Robert Jnr (18) and William (15). By the age of 50 Robert Waugh was a deputy overman, William (25) still worked as a coal miner, his brother Ralph (17) and Thomas (15) were pony drivers whilst Nicholas (21) was employed by the Co-Operative store as a hardware man, Christopher (10) was a scholar, their daughter Elizabeth was married whilst Jane Ann (23) helped her mother with domestic duties and looking after her youngest sibling Hannah (13), also living with them was Jane’s brother William Cox (49) employed as a hewer.
July 17th 1902 Robert Waugh deputy overman at Page Bank Colliery died aged 51 leaving his worldly goods to his widow Jane who by 1911 was living along with her brother and sons Thomas and Christopher at 18, Steavenson Street, Bowburn, Coxhoe with her now married daughter Hannah and husband John Cuthbert Morley.
Nicholas Waugh had married in the district of Durham in 1907 to Frances Newman born at Page Bank, Willington in 1881 setting up home at 14, Baff Street, Spennymoor. Nicholas continued to work as a salesman in a hardware and furniture store, their daughter Mary was born during the 4th quarter 1911.
On the outbreak of war Nicholas enlisted, assigned to the Royal Garrison Artillery he served as Gunner 143577 with the 13th Siege Battery equipped with heavy Howitzers and departed for France April 23rd 1915 where he served on the Western Front.
Gunner 143577 Nicholas Waugh Royal Garrison Artillery was wounded, exact date unknown and evacuated back through the lines to Wimereux, which along with Boulogne was an important hospital centre and from where if necessary he could have been evacuated to England for further treatment. Unfortunately, Private Waugh succumbed to injuries received and died July 5th 1917 and interred at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave II. N. 12A. He was 36 years old. Due to the sandy consistency of the land at Wimereux all headstones are laid flat. His widow Frances commissioned at a cost of 4 shillings 11 pence and additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Until The Day Breaks”.
Frances received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension for herself and their child and his military awards of the British War Medal and Victory medal sent to her at 14, Baff Street, Spennymoor, County Durham.
Frances Waugh nee Newman never remarried and died in the district of County Durham in 1968 aged 87 years.
Nicholas’s brother Christopher also served during WW1 as Corporal 1122 Northumberland Fusiliers. Wounded on active service he was repatriated to the Military Hospital at Trent Bridge where he died April 10th 1918. His body transported to Willington for burial with military honours, he is at rest within Willington Cemetery, County Durham. He was 27 years old and single.
Their mother Jane Waugh nee Cox died in the district of Durham in 1936 aged 89 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Nicholas Waugh is remembered at Spennymoor on S131.02, S131.03, S131.09 and S131.11
