Heslop's Local Advertiser
Brewery Orchard Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Peter Docherty born at Wallsend, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1889, was one of 13 children, 7 sons, 3 daughters and 3 gender unknown, of whom only 6 had survived by 1911. His parents Charles Doherty and Elizabeth McCoy were born in Northern Ireland in 1847 and 1857 respectively and having come to England were married at Willington Quay, November 25th 1872, (Charles is listed under the surname Doherty). While they were living at 12, Glover’s Row, Wallsend, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in 1881, Charles was employed as a chemical labourer supporting not only his wife but son Charles Jnr born 1874, Mary Ann 1877 and Jonathan 1879, to increment the family income they had taken into their home 22-year-old Francis Quinn, an Irish immigrant and general labourer. By 1891 they had moved to Clyde Street, Wallsend, Charles had now been joined by Charles Jnr as a labourer and their family had grown with the birth of Elizabeth known as Lizzie 1886, Thomas 1887, Peter 1889, Andrew 1891. They had transferred to Felling Shore, Gateshead, County Durham, by the time William was born in 1893 followed by Joseph in 1898. Charles Docherty died in 1902, registered in the district of Gateshead in error as 45 years of age, he was in fact 55 years old. His widow Elizabeth in 1911 was living at 7 Reay’s Building, Heworth Lane, Gateshead, supported by Peter (22) and his younger brother William (18) employed as putters at the colliery.
When war was declared, August 28th 1914, Peter was 25 years old, he enlisted November 9th 1914 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, assigned to the newly formed 25th Battalion (2nd Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 911. Attached to the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915 at Ripon after further training they moved to Salisbury Plain for final training in August, departing January 1916 to France where they concentrated at La Crosse, near St. Omer.
Private 25/911 Peter Docherty Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action aged 27 years, April 6th 1916 during day to day trench warfare in the run up to the Battles of the Somme. Taken by the Field Ambulance for burial at Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, Nord, France, he was interred grave IV. B. 6.
Peter had nominated his eldest brother Charles as his sole beneficiary, he received all monies due to him, his effects and awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Peter's death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 22/4/1916:
"Private Peter Docherty, late of Felling Shore, killed in action on April 6th. Brother of Mrs. Wm. Stockton, of 2 Church Row, Windy Nook."
Peter Docherty is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004
