Evening Chronicle 08/06/1940
Photo: Dorothy Hall
Photo: Dorothy Hall
Photo: Dorothy Hall
4454458 Private
R.S. Redshaw
Durham Light Infantry
28th May 1940 Age 25
He died that we may live
In silence we remember
A flower block is in front of the headstone which reads:-
Robert
Redshaw
8th D.L.I.
Died of wounds
A further vase reads:-
In memory of
Bella S. Redshaw
May 1957 aged 65
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Robert Sims was born at Gateshead in 1915. His parents were Robert Sims Redshaw and Isabella (nee Mitchell) who married at Gateshead in 1912. The family lived at Teams Colliery.
His father, Robert, was born at Low Fell in 1892. Both Robert and his father Joseph worked at the pit. Robert was a putter. The family of 7 lived in 2 rooms at No. 3 New Houses Ravensworth Colliery.
The Dundee Courier 13/12/1913 reports:-
FAMILY ROW AFTER FUNERAL
A CASE OF TOO MUCH MOTHER IN LAW
A disturbance at a funeral described by Mr Frank J Lambert as more or less a riot led to proceedings at Gateshead Police Court yesterday afternoon for persistent cruelty.
They were taken by Isabella Redshaw, aged 22 against her husband, Robert Sims Redshaw aged 21 a miner employed at Ravensworth Colliery who was represented by Mr Lambert.
The applicant, who is living at present, with her mother at 134 Milling Street, said they had been married 12 months, and there had been twins one of which died.
After the funeral last Sunday, it was alleged the defendant’s mother and himself threw the applicant out into the street at 11.30 at night. He had previously in the day struck her whilst sitting at the table.
Another act of cruelty alleged was an occasion when the defendant pulled his wife out of bed and threw her into the fireplace breaking the fender. Putting his foot into the cradle, he knocked the two children onto the floor.
“Was he under the influence of drink” asked the Clerk. “It was just his temper “ was the reply.
In cross examination by Mr Lambert the wife denied that such weapons as coal-rakes and pokers were used in the ‘scene’ at the funeral at the funeral. She alleged, however, that her husband had drunk a whole bottle of whisky containing three gills.
“Neat?” asked the Chairman, Mr J Burrell. “Yes” was the reply. “Oh, no “ answered the Chairman. He wouldn’t have been here this morning if he had.
Mr Lambert’s suggested remedy was rather humorous. He proposed that these two young people should be thrashed well and sent home together. “The trouble seemed to be the usual thing” the solicitor went on. It is “too much mother in law”. It seems ridiculous that these two parties should have to come before the Magistrates to be separated.
Unfortunately, he continued, there was a disgraceful scene at the tea after the poor child was buried, and the two sets of parents got to blows. The result of the squabble was that the defendant was ‘knocked out’ and left lying on the mat. His wife took 14s 5d out of his pocket and handed it to her mother. When he afterwards attempted to bring about a reconciliation she said that the next time he saw her face it would be in the Police Court.
The defendant told the Magistrates that he wanted his wife back before Christmas Day and the Magistrates adjourned the case and advised the parties to come together.”
In 1939 Robert born 1892 and Isabella born 1891 were living at 4 Eslington Terrace, Team Colliery with Violet born 1921, Amy born 1928 and two others. Robert was a Colliery Deputy Overman below.
Robert born 1915 had joined the Territorial Army in May 1939 and enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry. He was wounded in Belgium and died of wounds in Surrey on Tuesday 28 May 1940 and is buried at St Andrew’s Lamesley.
Robert Sims Redshaw is remembered at Birtley on B127.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 34 and in the Battalion History page 313
