Photo: Brian Pirrie
52 Private
R.W. Alderson
Army Veterinary Corps
11th November 1915 Age 31
Robert William was the son of Thomas and Susan Alderson, of West Pelton and husband of Mary Elizabeth Alderson, of 28, Park Street, Middlesbrough.
William Kirby has submitted the following:-
Robert was born in 1884 the son of Thomas and Susan Alderson.
In 1901 the family are living at 15 John Street, West Pelton. Thomas was a Coal Miner deputy Overman and Robert aged 16 was a Colliery Labourer.
At Pelton, Holy Trinity Church on the 12th June 1910 Robert married Mary Elizabeth Whitehead, born at Middlesbrough and they lived at 35 Blackhorse Terrace High Hold near Pelton in 1911. Robert was working as a Domestic Gardener and Groom for the Engineer for James Joicey and Co.
Robert and Mary Elizabeth had at least one child Thomas H. born in 1911.
Robert enlisted in 1914 and joined the Army Veterinary Corps.
Chester-le-Street Chronicle 19/11/1915 reports:-
Warrior Laid to Rest
The funeral of the late Private Robert Alderson, Army Veterinary Corps, a native of West Pelton, where he was for many years in the service of Mr W. Storey, colliery engineer, took place at West Pelton on Sunday. The deceased had for some time lived at Stanley and took ill when with his regiment at Byker and died last week from pneumonia. The funeral was attended by merely a thousand persons. They included a detachment from his Corps about fifty strong under an officer and a large number of the members of the Stanley and Newfield Lodges of the Order of the Buffaloes, of which he was a member. The service was conducted by the Rev. E.J. Taylor who is a Buffalo and also chaplain of the 8th D.L.I. He was assisted by Bro. Carr, who conducted the service of the Order. There were wreaths from the following amongst others : "From your Colonel, Captain and Lieutenant, with deep regret and heartfelt sympathy" "From Private A.R. Kuhdman with deepest sympathy for his dear comrade." and "With deepest sympathy from his comrades of the A.V.C."
Robert William Alderson is not remembered on a local War Memorial. However at Stanley in the Book of Remembrance there is a Robert William Anderson AVC, buried West Pelton September 15th 1916. Is this Robert William Alderson?
