Alexander Winter

Alexander and daughter Christine

Alexander Winter, one of 7 children all of whom survived, was the 3rd born of 5 sons and had 1 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Francis Winter was born at Shotton, County Durham, April 13th 1865 and married, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1889, Isabel Hindmoor born March 17th 1865, native of Brancepeth, County Durham. In 1891 they were living at 59, Liddle Street, Cornsay Colliery where Francis was employed as a colliery labourer and their eldest child John was born during the latter part of the 2nd quarter (April/May.Jun) that year. In search of work Francis and his family moved several times over the next ten years. Daughter Margaret was born at Cornsay in 1892, Thomas June 20th 1894 at Ushaw Moor, Alexander at Broom December 23rd 1895 and Mary Ellen at Hebburn July 1st 1899, however, they had returned to 404, Broompark, Broom the following year and later moved to Hedley Hope where Francis Jnr known as Frank was born August 3rd 1901 and William in 1907.

Listed as a widow in the census of 1911, living at 28, Dragon Villa, near Durham, Isabel was supported by her elder sons John (21) employed as a coal miner/hewer, Thomas (17) a putter and Alexander (15) a pony driver, to increment the family income they had taken into their home as a boarder, widower Joseph Close. She remarried in 1915 in the district of Lanchester to John T. Watson.

Alexander Winter is deemed to have enlisted in the Army as of March 2nd 1916, assigned as Gunner 283707, 5th Reserve Brigade Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force and attended the annual camp at Athlone, Ireland. He was married April 9th 1917 at St. Cuthbert’s, Satley, County Durham, to Florence May Brown. Aged 22 years 4 months, living at 1, Chapel Row, East Hedley Hope, County Durham, he was called up, June 3rd 1918, attested at Sunderland, found to be in excellent health, and posted to the No.1 Depot Royal Field Artillery at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, before joining his unit at Scolton Camp, Catterick Bridge, Yorkshire.

Within a month of Alexander being called up his wife gave birth to their first child, Thomas, April 10th 1918, The joy of the birth was marred by the news of his brother John Winter’s death whilst serving with the Royal Field Artillery in Salonika, Greece, April 7th 1918.

As Alexander remained in England throughout his service although his family life was disrupted he would have been frequently given leave to return home, his wife in the interim went to live with her parents at 4, Eden Terrace, Belmont, Durham. Gunner Winter after the declaration of the Armistice, November 11th 1918, was transferred to Class Z, December 5th 1918, at Scolton Camp, free to return to his employment as a coal miner although under the obligation to return to active service should hostilities with Germany resume and discharged at Ripon in Yorkshire. Class Z was abolished March 31st 1920 after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919 which officially brought WW1 to an end.

Having returned to his employment the family was living at 16, Reading Room Row, East Hedley Hope. Florence gave birth April 20th 1920 to a daughter, Margaret, son Harold, February 13th 1925. His wife Florence May Winter nee Brown died aged 32 years in 1930, after the death of his mother Isabel Watson-Winter nee Hindmoor in 1932, Alexander remarried to Mildred Bradwell, born February 21st 1906, native of Tow Law, County Durham, March 31st 1934, at St. Paul’s Church, Waterhouses, County Durham, and with whom he had a further 4 children. Derek was born February 25th 1935, Alexander Jnr January 31st 1938 and Keith in 1940, whilst they were living at 18, Post Office Row, East Hedley Hope, Alexander was employed as a hewer at the colliery, Harold (16) as a pony driver below ground.

During WW2 Alexander was a warden, daughter Christine Mary Winter was born in 1949.

Alexander Winter died November 3rd 1954 aged 58 years, his wife Mildred aged 71 years, December 11th 1977. Son Thomas died in 1969, Margaret Ellen 2010, Harold 2001, Derek 1997, Alexander Jnr 1996, Keith 1940 within his first year, Christine Mary is still living.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.