George Thomas Moir

Medal Index Card

Amalgamated Society of Paper Makers 91st Report

Willam Street Grangetown Sunderland 1930s

Sunderland Echo Thursday 26/09/1918

William Wright Moir was born on the 25th July 1881, the third son to parents George Thomas Moir and Jane Anne (nee Wright); they married on 11th July 1878 at Parish Church, Hendon, Sunderland. In April 1881 his parents and brother, George Andrew were living at 5, Spelter Works Road, Sunderland, but later that year, at the time of William’s birth they were residing at 12 Milbanke Row, Grangetown, Sunderland.

His father George Thomas, was born on the 29th June 1857, at Halfway House, Grangetown, Sunderland and was working as a Mason before William was born. His wife Jane Anne was born on the 12th January 1857, in Warden, Northumberland. Their first son, George was born in 1878 and sadly died in infancy, he was followed by George Andrew, born 24th April 1879, who was born at Halfway House, Grangetown, Sunderland.

Halfway House in Grangetown, was part of the Township of Ryhope in those days. It was on the corner of Ocean Road with Ryhope Road and once the residence of William’s grandfather, George Moir, a builder, he built many houses in Grangetown and Ryhope, including St Paul’s Church in Ryhope. It was a large house and the name of Halfway House came from the fact that it was halfway between one place and another.

The family were residing at 2 William Street, Sunderland when George Andrew, their second son sadly passed away on the 26th January 1885, leaving William their only child. However, on the 17th April of the same year, Jane Anne gave birth to their first daughter, Jane Veronica, a sister for William.

The family were still residing at 2 William Street in Sunderland during the summer of 1887, when the family had another addition on the 16th August, another son Arthur Wellesley, was born; a brother for both William and Jane Veronica. Unfortunately, on 10th September that year, their son Arthur died.

The following year on 12th November 1888, their youngest child Thomas, was born at 2 William Street in Sunderland. When the 1891 census was taken the family were residing in 11 William Street, Sunderland, also living with them was Margaret Noble who was working as a domestic servant. In 1901 the family had moved to 3 William Street, and William aged 19, is employed as a labourer at Hendon Paper Mill. His sister Jane, is now aged 15, and his younger brother, Thomas, is now 12.

William Wright was a member of the Amalgamated Society of Paper Makers and he is mentioned in their quarterly report for September 1916 to December 1916.

William Wright married Violet Middlemiss (nee Dobson) on the 21st June 1902 at Sunderland Register Office; she was the daughter of the late John Richard and Margaret Dobson. The couple had five children during their marriage, the first was John Richard [born 31st March 1903, died 1924], he was born at 2 Mainsforth Terrace West, Sunderland. Their next child William Wright, named after his father [born 18th May 1905, died 1973] was born at 3 William Street, Sunderland. Their next two children, Violet Middlemiss [born 15th October 1907, died 1978] and Vera [born 3rd May 1908, died 2007], were both born at 4 William Street, Sunderland.

His sister, Jane Veronica (or Vera) married Henry Attenborough on the 26th March 1910 at the Parish Church, Ryhope, Sunderland and in April 1911 they are living at 6 Fleming Street, Sunderland with their son named Thomas, born in 1911. Also living with Vera and Henry, are his parents, Annie and Thomas Attenborough. Henry and his father are working as bricklayers in a colliery.

In April 1911, William, Violet and their four children, John Richard, William Wright, Violet Middlemiss and Vera are found living at 4 William Street, Sunderland. William is now 29, and is working in the paper works at Hendon, but is listed on the census as a ‘Pacherman’; however, it is likely that this may have been a ‘potcherman’, someone responsible for operating a machine named a ‘potcher’. This machine was used for breaking up paper, washing and bleaching and an early form of recycling; and the job would have carried more responsibilities for William, and seen as a promotion from being a labourer.

Living nearby in 1911 at 3 William Street, Sunderland are William’s parents and his brother Thomas. His brother, Thomas is now 22 and working as a labourer, and his father is a stone mason, both are working in a colliery.

However, almost a week after the 1911 census, William and Vera’s younger brother, Thomas, died on 8th April, at the parents’ home in 3 William Street, with his father in attendance at the death. At the time of his death, Thomas was suffering with ‘Acute Lobar Pneumonia’, this is an acute pneumonia involving one or more lobes of the lung characterised by sudden onset of a chill, fever, difficulty in breathing and a cough. Thomas had been suffering from this for eight days, and Dr J H Robertson certified his death.

On the 19th July, 1912, William and Violet had another daughter named Margaret Isabella. Not long after, World War 1 was declared on the 4th August 1914, William enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment on the 26th September of that year at Sunderland. On the 30th September he has his medical.

On the 1st October he is at Newcastle-upon-Tyne joining the East Yorkshire Regiment. He is allocated the service nu 8/17136, stated age thirty three years and two months, height 5 feet 6 inches, weight 140lbs, a Fresh Complexion, Blue eyes and Brown hair. His trade is described as a paper maker. He is in the UK from the 30th September until the 8th September 1915, he is now been transferred into the 8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment after his initial training. He with the rest of his Battalion embark for France on the 9th September 1915.

He spent a total of 362 days in the Army. 344 in the UK, only 18 abroad.

William was assumed killed on or about the 26th September 1915 during the Battle of Loos.

Allocated to XV Corps, Fourth Army, during the afternoon 8th East Yorkshire Regiment and 10th Yorkshire Regiment of 62nd Infantry Brigade, were sent forward to reinforce 15th Division, who had captured Loos-en-Gohelle and were attempting to take Hill 70 to the east of the village. Unfamiliar with the ground and coming under heavy shrapnel fire for the first time in combat the battalions lost direction and suffered very heavy casualties from machine-gun fire in the southern end of Chalk Pit Wood. Later in the day, 63rd Infantry Brigade were sent to reinforce the line in the same area. Taking up positions around Bois Hugo, between Hill 70 and Chalk Pit Wood.

10th York and Lancaster Regiment on the left, 10th West Yorkshire Regiment in the centre and 8th Lincolnshire Regiment on the right. 62nd Infantry Brigade were in support of 15th Division on their right, 64th Infantry Brigade in reserve north of Loos.

William was a member of the Amalgamated Society of Paper Makers and his branch is listed as being Hendon Mill, Sunderland. The 91st Quarterly Report September to December 1916, lists the members on active service and obituary lists, including those killed on active service. William is listed on page 25 of the report as missing since 26th September 1915.

His parents outlived all of their sons, his mother, Jane Anne died on the 13th August 1925 at 3 William Street, Sunderland and his father, George Thomas, died on the 30th June 1931 at Highfield, Hylton Road, Sunderland.

William’s maternal grandparents were George Wright [1821-1870] and Jane (nee Cummings) [1826-1883]; they married on 3rd April 1852 at Morpeth, Northumberland. They are buried in St Michael and All Angels' Churchyard, Warden, Northumberland. They had 10 children, five sons and five daughters one being William’s mother, Jane Anne Wright [1857–1925]. George was a Schoolmaster and the Parish Clerk before he died in 1870.

His paternal grandparents were George Moir born in 1825 and Margaret (nee Wilson) born 1830. They married on the 3rd August 1850 at Christ Church, Tynemouth, Northumberland, and during their marriage had a family of nine children, five sons and two daughters, his father, George Thomas Moir [1857–1931]; and brothers and sisters: William Moir [1851–1875]; Susannah Moir [1854–1932]; Margaret Ann Moir [1861–1890]; John Joseph Moir [1865–1949]; Andrew Moir [1867–1920] and Arthur Moir [1869–1927].

Margaret, his grandmother, died on the 17th October, 1904 at Grange House, Grangetown and was interred on the 19th October at 3pm, she was aged 74. Not long after, his grandfather, George died on the 30th December 1906; at 8 William Street, Sunderland and he was buried on the 3rd January 1907 at Sunderland Cemetery (locally known as Grangetown Cemetery). William’s grandfather, George, had been a builder and was the eldest son of a Stone Mason, William Moir (great grandfather).

William Moir, his great grandfather, was born on the 7th February 1802 at Pittington, Durham and married Margaret (nee Wright), on the 9th February 1829 at Gateshead. Margaret was born on 24th August 1804 at Gateshead.

During their marriage they had a family of five sons and four daughters, three of their daughters, Margaret [1830–1841], Hanna [1831–1833], and Isabella [1844–1844] had short lives which was quite common in those days. Their sons George [1825–1906], William [1835–1918], Andrew [1837–1921], Thomas [1840–1926], Joseph Newrick [1843–1904] and daughter Joanna [1833–1892] lived considerably longer.

Sadly, William’s great grandfather died on the 26th December 1854 at Halfway House, Ryhope, after being struck by a railway train on the 19th December 1854. His Great grandmother, Margaret, died on 12th October 1845 at Hetton-le-Hole in Sunderland.

William Wright Moir is remembered at Ryhope on R52.01, in Sunderland on S140.036 and in S140.048 part 4, page 66.