William Kirby and Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
William the son of Richard and Alice Ellen (nee Hunter) was born at Seaham Harbour in 1896. He was their eldest child but three siblings followed sisters, Jane (1899), Ann Isabella (1901) and a brother Richard (1903).
In 1901 the family was living at 111 Princess Street East Murton His father was a coal miner/hewer.
Unfortunately, his mother died in 1907 so by the time of the next census the household had changed as they now had a housekeeper, Annie Stewart, living with them. They were living at 10 North Crescent, Waterworks, Murton in 1911.
Ann Isabella is missing from the home in 1911 and is, in fact, living with her Aunt Ann and Uncle William at an address at 10 Ann Street Sculcoates, Hull. No reason is given for this arrangement except to say her aunt and uncle had been married for eleven years without having children of their own.
William enlisted at Seaham Harbour which is all the military information available at the present time. He joined the Royal Field Artillery.
William served with the Royal Field Artillery, originally as service number 2161 then changing to number 760643.
He died of wounds on 15 April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive known as Kaiserschacht.
He was awarded the British Military Medal and the Victory Medal.
William John Watson Hunter Jane is remembered at Dawdon on D41.06, at Murton on M47.01, M47.06, M47.09 and M47.12 and at Seaham Harbour on S117.06
