William Alfred Birchall Washington
The first headstone in Ropery Lane
Photo: CLS Heritage Group
Photo: CLS Heritage Group
Photo: CLS Heritage Group
915719 Private
W.A. Washington
Army Catering Corps
14th October 1942
Attached Royal Artillery
A flower block reads:-
W.A.B.W (WASHY)
Side W.A.W.
William Alfred Birchall Washington was born in 1917 at Chorlton, Lancashire. In May 1939 he married Maisie Reed (17) the daughter of John Reed, a miner, at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy and St Thomas of Canterbury, Gorton, Manchester. (Maisie had been born in Chester-le-Street and was in service).
William worked as an engineer for The Renold and Coventry Chain Company Limited at Disbury Manchester. Their daughter Pamela was born later that same year.
On joining the army Bill became part of the Army Catering Corps attached to The Royal Artillery and was stationed for some time in Northern Ireland.
In October 1942 Maisie’s parents, living by then at 15 Pine Street, Grange Villa, received a telegram to say that Sergeant Washington was dangerously ill in 24th London General Hospital, Belfast suffering from intracranial neoplasm. Maisie’s mother, Jane, travelled to Belfast, but Bill died before she arrived on 14th October 1942.
Bill, aged 25 years, was buried in Chester-le-Street Ropery Lane Cemetery on the 21st October 1942.
Maisie remained in the area remarried and died in 1993.
The photograph shows the original grave marker until it was replaced by the CWGC headstone.
William Alfred Birchall Washington is remembered at Chester-le-Street on C105.40