Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Straughair Noble was born 1893 in Murton, County Durham, the son of Lowes Noble born October 31st 1836 at Allendale, County Durham and his second wife Harriet Straughair native of Hutton Henry, County Durham, born in 1856, whom he married, June 1877, in the district of Easington. William was one of 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls born from this union, he also had 4 half-sisters from his father’s first marriage in 1862 to Jane Taylor of Holywell, Northumberland who died in 1875 aged 32 years. Lowes Nobel was a farmer/grocer who in 1881 was living at Albert Terrace, Shotton, he died August 19th 1901 leaving probate of £6257 2 shillings and 2 pence to grocer Anthony Watson. In 1911 his widow and unmarried children were living at Green Hills, Murton Colliery, William now aged 18 was employed as a grocer’s apprentice. For some time William attended Bede School in Sunderland leaving in 1908.
William S. Noble enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1914 as Private 1531 and was firstly assigned to the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, later transferred to the 20th Tyneside Scottish Battalion, attached to the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division. They were taken over by the War Office on August 15th 1915, moved by the end of the month to Salisbury Plain and crossed to France in January 1916. Preparations were already underway for the Battle of the Somme during which the 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers participated at the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916 followed by the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917.
The death of Private 1531 William Straughair Noble Northumberland Fusiliers was officially accepted as being June 5th 1917. He has no known grave, his name is one of almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and August 7th 1918, recorded on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d’Amiens British Cemetery, Arras, France, bay 2 and 3. William was 24 years old and single.
His mother Harriet received all monies due to him along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Harriet Noble nee Straughair died aged 96 years in March 1952.
The C.W.G.C. entry for Private Noble reads his middle name as Strangheir, the Register of Soldiers Effects reads as Strangham, Soldiers Died reads as Stranghan however his Birth entry in 1893 reads Straughair.
Lowes Noble Rutter William's nephew also died in the Great War (See Every Name a Story)
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William S. Noble is remembered at Dalton le Dale on D39.01, and in Murton on M47.01 and M47.06 and on the Sunderland Bede School Roll of Honour S140.017
