Pozieres Memorial
Willington Cemetery
In Willington Cemetery there is a family grave which reads:-
In
Affectionate Remembrance
Of
HANNAH
Beloved Wife Of
George Laws
Who Died March 24th 1912
Aged 67 Years
Also The Above GEORGE LAWS
who Died December 19th 1927
aged 83 Years
Also RALPH Their Son
who Was Killed In Action
in France April 17th 1918
aged 31 Years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Ralph Laws was born at Willington, County Durham, during the 2nd quarter 1887. One of 11 children of whom only 9 survived he was the 4th born of 5 sons and had 5 elder sisters. His father George Laws was born at Oxen in Suffolk in 1844, son of cordwainer (shoe maker) John Laws and his wife Mary. Between 1861 and 1867 he migrated to the north east where he met Hannah Donnison born at Willington in 1844. They were married March 16th 1867 at St Stephen’s Church Willington and settled at The Cottage, where he was employed as a labourer. By 1881 they had moved to 4, Society’s Yard as he now worked at the coke ovens as a drawer and 13 year old John George as a general labourer. In the census of 1901 his 3 elder sons were all employed, John George (23 and Henry (18) as brick-layers whilst William (16) had joined his father working at the coke ovens, Ralph (13) and the youngest Thomas (12) were scholars, they too later joined the other male members of the family as labourers. In 1911 they were living at Park Villa, Willington, only Ralph, William and Thomas were still living at home, their father now 66 years of age had set up a business for his own account as a market gardener. Hannah Laws nee Donnison died March 21st 1912 aged 67 years and was interred in the family plot within St Stephen’s Churchyard.
On the outbreak of war Ralph enlisted in 1915 and was assigned as Private 32203 firstly to the 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry then to the 14th Battalion and finally to the 19th Battalion. As his military record no longer exists it is impossible to know when these transfers took place, he did however depart to France in early 1916 and would have fought during the Battles of the Somme and may well have been transferred to the 19th Battalion at their conclusion as the 19th Battalion who were ordered to the Arras sector in August 1916 had sustained heavy casualties due to shelling and gas attacks. The reinforcements they received were not of the same physical standard as the original Bantams and after a medical inspection 1439 of the new arrivals were transferred to the Labour Corps, their places were taken by men of the disbanded yeomanry regiments.
In 1917 the 19th Battalion was in action during the pursuit of the Hindenburg Line at Houthulst Forest and the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele. February 8th 1918 they transferred to the 104th Brigade 35th Division and fought in the First Battle of Bapaume and the Final Advance to Victory.
Private 32203 Ralph Laws Durham Light Infantry was killed in action April 17th 1918 during day to day trench warfare. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 14,707 names of servicemen, who have no known grave, inscribed on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, near Albert, France which encloses the Pozieres British Cemetery. Private Laws was 31 years old and single.
His father George as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him and his awards of the the British War Medal and Victory medal sent to him at 5, Park View, Low Willington, County Durham.
Ralph’s brother Thomas also served during WW1. He left his employment as a skilled engine driver to enlist at West Hartlepool, November 2nd 1915 and was assigned as Sapper 131730 235th Army Troop Royal Engineers, Signals Companies of the Territorial Force. March 9th 1916 he embarked for service overseas until he was transferred to Class Z Army Reserve, March 16th 1919 which enabled him to return to his employment under the obligation of returning to his unit should hostilities with Germany resume. Class Z was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919 which officially brought hostilities with Germany to an end.
George Laws died December 19th 1927 aged 83 years and buried with his wife at St Stephen’s Churchyard, Willington Cemetery, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Colin Boyd adds
"In addition he received a 9ct gold "Tribute" medal hallmarked Birmingham 1920 which was auctioned by Dix, Noonan & Webb in 2008. The obverse of the 26mm diameter medal is inscribed "Brancepeth Nos. 1 & 2 & Sunnybrow Miners Memorial Medal" and has an image of the Miners Association Headquarters in Durham City. The reverse is inscribed "Presented by his fellow workmen in honour of R. Laws who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918."
Ralph Laws is remembered at Willington on W120.02, W120.03 and W120.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 88
