Photo: Geordie at War Project
In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
Erected
in loving memory of
Pte. Young Ridley Grey
who was killed in action in France
May 17th 1915 aged 30 years,
interred in the grounds of the
White Chateau, near Ypres.
Deeply mourned.
Also Lieut. Walter George Craig
brother-in-Law of the above
who died a prisoner of war in Germany Nov. 5th 1918 Aged 27 years
Also Barbara beloved wife of
James Grey
died Feb. 25th 1925, aged 74 years.
Also the above
James Grey,
who died April 10th 1940
aged 86 years.
Also Nellie Craig
who died Jan. 9th 1960
aged 66 years.
All at rest.
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:
Walter was the eldest son of Walter (manager of a chemical works) and Isabella Craig. He was born 1st January 1891 in Gateshead.
At the age of 20 he was working for Gateshead Corporation as an assistant weights & measurer. In the summer of 1915 he married Nellie Grey. They lived at 145 Beaufort Street Gateshead.
Walter served with ‘A’ Coy., 11th battalion Durham Light Infantry.
He was reported missing on the 22nd March 1918 and was later reported to be a prisoner of war (record no 4062). He died from influenza at Grandenz POW camp on the 5th November 1918 in Germany. He left £149.6s.1d to his wife. He is buried at Poznan Garrison Old Cemetery Poland.
His father added the following words to his headstone: God be with you Till we meet again.
Walter George Craig is remembered at Gateshead on G39.003, G39.004 G39.025 G39.116 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 308.
