Photo: Geordie at War Project
In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone which reads
In loving memory
of
Isabella,
dearly beloved daughter of
Thomas and Ann Atkinson
who died Dec. 31st 1918, aged 38 years.
also Edward John, their beloved son
who died March 23rd 1919, aged 44 years.
Also Pte. George Atkinson, 11th Royal
Inniskilling Fus. their beloved son
who died of wounds received in action in France
July 11th 1916, aged 25 years.
Also Pte. Harry F. Smith 1st N.F.
their son-in-law who fell in action in France
Nov. 8th 1914, aged 29 years.
Also Sergt. Albert E. Flood, 1st N.F.
their son-in-law who fell in action in France
June 16th 1915 aged 31 years.
Also Thomas Atkinson
who died Oct. 14th 1928 aged 77 years.
Dorothy Hall has submitted the following:-
George was the son of Thomas and Ann Atkinson who was born in Gateshead. The headstone says he was 25 when he died (born 1891); CWGC says 28 (born 1888); Census 1891 says age 5 (born 1886) census 1901 says age 14 (born 1887). Thomas and Ann lived at Church Street Gateshead in 1891 with their seven children, including George.
In 1901 the family were at Winlaton and George was a Labourer’s Errand Boy. 1911 saw them back in Gateshead at 36 Quarry Field Road. The census form says that Thomas and Ann had 12 children of whom three were dead. Thomas was a General Labourer, as was George, both working for a Metal Merchant.
After the outbreak of war George enlisted at Newcastle and joined the 11th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as Private 24511. He died of wounds 11/07/1916 and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.
His father Thomas, of 36 Quarry Field Road, Gateshead, added the words “Eternal Rest give unto him O Lord” on to his headstone.
Two of his sisters’ husbands were also killed in the Great War - see Smith and Flood.
George is not easily identified on any Gateshead memorial.
