Willington Cemetery

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

George Rutherford was born at Willington, County Durham in 1878, the eldest of 4 known children, 3 sons and a daughter. His father William Rutherford native of Wylam, Northumberland, born 1851 and baptised September 7th 1851 married in 1878 in the district of Durham to Margaret Watson born 1857 at South Hetton, County Durham. William was publican of the Bee Hive Inn at 72, High Street, Willington, which was also the family home. After his premature death in 1892 aged 41 years his widow Margaret took over the responsibility of innkeeper assisted by George (22) and Henry (21) as barmen.

In 1899 George was married in the district of Bishop Auckland, County Durham to Bertha Dunn born 1878 at Wooley, near Stanley, County Durham and with whom he had four children, Margaret born 1900, Jane 1901, William 1902 and Blanche born February 12th 1905. In 1911 he and his wife were innkeepers at Spennymoor and had two live in domestic servants Elizabeth (24) and Amy (22) Jackson.

On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Ferryhill, exact date unknown and was assigned as Private 27142 to the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The 2nd battalion in August 1915 was in the trenches at Givenchy, France and later transferred to the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division. They also participated during major battles at Loos, on the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd 1916 and the Battle of Morval September 25th-28th 1916, at Cambrai, Arras and the Hindenburg Line during 1917.

Severely wounded, exact date unknown, Private Rutherford was repatriated and received treatment at the Military Hospital, Stockport, Cheshire, of which there were four, all schools which had been commandeered by the War Office for the treatment of returning soldiers. The children were redistributed to other schools in the area.

Private 27142 George Rutherford Grenadier Guards died of wound sustained on active service at Stockport Military Hospital, September 19th 1918, aged 40 years of age. At the request of his widow his body was transported to Willington for burial with military honours. He is at rest at Willington Cemetery, County Durham.

His widow Bertha of 20, Hutton Terrace, Willington commissioned and paid 7 shillings 10 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, 'Death Divides But Memory Clings'. She also received a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal as well as the 1914-15 Star had his overseas service commenced prior to December 1915.

Bertha Rutherford nee Dunn never remarried and died aged 59 years in 1937, their eldest daughter Margaret never married, she died aged 68 in 1968, their youngest daughter Blanche married William Frame and died aged 92 years in 1997, all deaths registered in County Durham. Details as regards the demise of Jane and William Rutherford unknown.

George’s mother Margaret Rutherford nee Watson died within 6 months of her son during the 1st quarter of 1918, aged 61 years.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

George Rutherford is remembered at Willington on W120.02

The CWGC entry for Private Rutherford