Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur Wrightson was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham in 1893, one of 10 children of whom only 9 survived, he was the 5th born of 6 sons and 3 daughters. His father William Wrightson originated from Yorkshire where he was born at Fearby, near High Ellington in 1851. As a young man he was employed by farmer William Raw as a servant but had moved to the north east where he married in the district of Sunderland in 1876, Sarah Henderson, born 1855 in the village of Cox Green, Sunderland. in 1881 William was employed by the railway as a signalman whilst they were living at 22, Church Street, South Hylton and also in 1891 when he and his family lived at Railway Cottages, Dubmire, near Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham. His eldest son Robert (14) was also employed by the railway as a clerk, his older children were all scholars. They transferred to Felling between 1891 and 1893, daughter Margaret (22) was a dressmaker for her own account working from home, Charles (19) and Thomas (15) were employed as draper’s assistants, John unlike his father who was still working as a signalman was a colliery labourer, Arthur (7) and Ernest (6) were at home, eldest son Robert was married and living at Wylam.
William Wrightson died at Gateshead aged 50 years in 1901, his widow, living in 1911 in 4 rooms at 1, Hewiston Terrace, Felling was supported by sons John and Thomas employed by a chemical manufacturer as labourers and Arthur and Ernest both of whom worked at the colliery as drivers.
On the outbreak of war Arthur enlisted at Gateshead, assigned as Private 2230 to the 1st/9th Durham Light Infantry he joined them at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Over the next nine months, after spending a few weeks digging trenches at South Shields, the battalion formed into four companies and were trained at Ravensworth, Boldon, and Newcastle for full-time active service overseas.
Private Wrightson departed from Newcastle railway station April 19th 1915 arriving at Boulogne, France the following day where his Regiment joined the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division in the field. Within days without and trench familiarisation they were fighting in the 2nd Battle of Ypres in Belgium where they suffered casualties from shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges but were spared the heavy losses suffered by the other Durhams’.
They served in the trenches of the Ypres salient until August 1916 before being moved south to participate during the final stages of the Battles of the Somme. In September and October, the 1st/9th Battalion attacked towards Starfish Line, north of High Wood and the Flers Line at Eaucourt L’Abbaye during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd 1916.
Private 2230 Arthur Wrightson Durham Light Infantry was reported as missing at the conclusion of the battle and his family was informed. It was not until July 1917 after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts that it was concluded and officially accepted that he had been killed in action, September 15th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1818 and who have no known grave. He was 24 years old and single.
As his sole beneficiary his mother Sarah Wrightson received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
After so many months of hoping her son was alive confirmation of Arthur’s death added to the Wrightson family’s grief as his elder brother Thomas Henderson Wrightson serving as Private 4352 with the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers had been killed in action November 2nd 1916 although he was not brought into Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France for permanent burial until October 24th 1923. Awards; 1914-15 Star, British war Medal and Victory Medal. He was 30 years old and had married in March 1916 at Gateshead to Mary Cahill. They did have a daughter, Kathleen, whom Thomas never saw. (Information from Carla Mayers, Thomas's granddaughter).
Sarah Wrightson nee Henderson died aged 71 years at Gateshead, County Durham in 1927.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917 carries a notice which reads:
“Private Arthur Wrightson, D.L.I., missing since Sept. 15th 1916, of Felling, now reported killed in action on that date, aged 24 years.”
Arthur Wrightson is remembered in Felling on F32.23 and in Windy Nook on W95.01 and W95.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 245
