Thiepval Memorial
Val Brennan has submitted the following information:-
John Vitty was born Oct/Nov/Dec 1881 at Helm Park Road Ends, Tow Law. He was the son of John Thomas and Dorothy Vitty (nee Stephenson). The family included Mary, Thomas William, John known as Jack, Jane Ann, Robert Stephenson and Meggie. In 1901 the family were living at Castle Bank, Tow Law and in 1911 at 13 Dans Castle, Tow Law. By this time John was working as a Coal Miner.
The 1911 census shows John as being married and research into various records show that John Vitty married Gertrude Maude Green in April/May/June 1905 and a daughter Violet Vitty was born in 1906. However in 1911 Violet is at 14 North Street Tow Law with her grandparents George and Ann Green. Gertrude Maude is at 35 West Street Mexborough as the 23 year old married housekeeper of Matthew Ingram a 27 year old widower. Further research shows that Matthew’s wife Sarah had died in 1908 and two children George Parkin (1) and Sydney Ingram (4 months) were Matthew and Gertrude’s children. Two daughters were later born Irene 1911 and Doris 1914. Matthew’s WW1 service records (Yorks and Lancs 3324) have survived and there is a mix of records for Sarah and Gertrude. Doris and Sydney both died whilst Matthew was serving. Gertrude Maude Vitty and Matthew Ingram married in June 1937 after the family had moved to Blackpool.
John Vitty enlisted at Bishop Auckland and joined the 1st/6th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He was killed in action on the 5th November 1916 aged 34 and has no known grave. John is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 14a and 15c.
John’s mother Dorothy Vitty of 19 Baring Street Tow Law died in 1917 with his father dying in 1930. Thomas Kitchener Vitty the son of John’s brother Robert Stephenson born 1914 died in World War II.
