Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Strand Military Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Harrison Alnwick, Jnr one of 6 children, all of whom survived, was the youngest of his siblings, 5 brothers and a sister. His father Harrison Alnwick Snr was born at Seaham Harbour, near Sunderland, County Durham, in about 1845 and married at South Shields in 1874, to local girl, Elizabeth Hopper Johnson. They settled at Seaham Harbour and all their children were born there, George, July 28th 1875, Ada Mary Annie, March 6th 1877, John Johnson, July 4th 1879. In 1881 they were living at 3, Church Crescent, Harrison Snr supported his family as a tailor outfitter. Over the next 10 years his wife gave birth to a further 3 children, Richard Lucock in 1882, Herbert Joseph 1885 and Harrison Jnr 1889. They had moved to 24, Cornelia Terrace by 1891, Harrison Snr was now a draper for his own account, John (21) an Able Seaman in the Merchant Service, Richard (18) a grocer’s apprentice and Herbert (16) a clerk in coal fitter’s office, Harrison (12) although of school age is not listed as such. Living with them was Elizabeth Weightman, employed by her uncle as his shop assistant, Ada no longer lived at home and George was married.
They still lived at Cornelia Terrace in 1911, Ada (34) had returned to her parents' home, Richard had concluded his apprenticeship and was now a fully-fledged grocer’s assistant, Herbert was still a clerk for the coal company, Harrison (22) had joined his cousin Elizabeth (28) employed by his father at his draper’s shop. John Johnson Alnwick had departed from the port of Liverpool, July 11th 1909 aboard the S.S. Arabic as a non-immigrant alien bound for Quebec, final destination the home of a Miss Sullport, however he did return to England.
Herbert Joseph Alnwick died March 11th 1912, April 20th 1912 his brother Harrison was assigned his effects in the sum of 146 pounds 2 shillings. He was 27 years of age and single.
In 1914 when war was declared John Johnson, Richard Lucock and Harrison were all eligible to serve. Harrison Alnwick was attested December 7th 1915 at Seaham and assigned as Private 681 to the newly formed 22nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry he was posted, February 8th 1916, to the regiment’s base at West Hartlepool. Once it reached full strength the battalion was taken over by the War Office and moved to Scotton Camp at Catterick, March 22nd 1916. The 22nd was a Pioneer Battalion, the men were not only trained to fight but also to dig. After only 2 weeks of intensive training under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Morgan they departed to France arriving on the Somme June 16th, just 2 weeks prior to the programmed commencement of the Battles of the Somme. The opening attack of June 29th 1916 was postponed due to bad weather until July 1st 1916. The Durham Pioneers joined the 8th Division July 2nd and were sent to the front line transporting supplies and ferrying the wounded to the dressing stations.
Harrison during these days of intense fighting would have received the news that his elder brother Richard serving with the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry had been reported as missing.
After being withdrawn from the front line the 22nd battalion did not return to the Somme until late October 1916 when they sustained further casualties digging communication trenches and carrying the wounded of the 8th Division under constant shell-fire.
July 31st 1917 the Third Battle of Ypres commenced in Belgium, however, the 22nd Battalion had moved south and spent the early summer in the sector digging communication trenches and laying new railway track in preparation for the battle and again sustained casualties due to shelling and gas attacks.
Private 22/681 Harrison Alnwick Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, August 30th 1917 and was initially buried at Le Bizet Convent Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, at map reference SL 36. c. 14. a. 40. 6. s.
After the Armistice at the request of the French and Belgian Governments smaller concentrations and isolated graves were brought into larger cemeteries. Le Bizet consisted of 88 burials from the United Kingdom and one from Canada who fell between October 1914-October 1915. Their remains were exhumed and brought into Strand Military Cemetery, 12.5 kilometres from Ypres, Belgium, October 20th 1920 and re-buried with military honours. Private 22/681 Harrison Alnwick Durham Light infantry is at rest grave IX. Q. 3. At the time of his demise in 1917 he was 28 years of age and single.
His father Harrison Alnwick Snr as administrator of his will received all monies due to him from the Army and his personal effects, December 31st 1917, in the sum of 118 pounds 16 shillings and 10 pence. February 16th 1918 Private Alnwick's personal effects consisting of; letters, photos, cards, religious medallion, religious book, leather letter case, visiting card, leather safety razor case & blades, electric torch, waterproof holdall, sent to him at 24, Cornelia Terrace, Seaham Harbour, County Durham as were his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He also commissioned at a cost of 9 shillings 11 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “We Thank God For Every Remembrance Of You.” His parents intended to visit his grave as mentioned in a letter to the Records Office, York, dated July 1st 1921, enquiring as to the fate of their son Pte Richard Lucock Alnwick.
Harrison Alnwick Snr died August 30th 1929 aged 85 years, leaving his effects in the sum of 10,066 pounds 3 shillings 4 pence to his widow and son George, engineer. His widow Elizabeth Hopper Alnwick nee Johnson aged 81 years, died October 13th 1930, probate November 28th 1930 in the sum of 738 pounds to son George, engineer and John Edward Rumfitt company secretary. Both deaths were registered in the district of Easington, County Durham.
Their son George Alnwick was married in 1898, district of Sunderland, County Durham, to Sarah Jane Haddick born December 2nd 1876 at Seaham and with whom by 1911 he had 4 children, Ada Mary, Hilda, George Harrison and Kathleen. He and his family lived for over 10 years at Marlborough Street, Seaham where he was employed as an engine fitter in the marine engine building sector. In 1939 he was retired and living with his wife at 26, Clyvedon Rise, South Shields. Sarah Jane Alnwick nee Haddick died in 1957 aged 81 years, George Alnwick aged 90 years, April 30th 1966, at the General Hospital, South Shields. George Alnwick left effects in the sum of 17,736 pounds, assigned to retired company secretary John Edward Rumfitt, June 28th 1866.
Ada Mary Annie Alnwick married John Edward Rumfitt born November 23rd 1883 at Hull, Yorkshire, in 1912, settling at 28, Maureen Street, Seaham Harbour and with whom she had a son, William Harrison Rumfitt in 1913. Her husband died in 1969 aged 86 years, Ada Mary Annie Rumfitt nee Alnwick aged 95 years in 1972, registered in the district of Durham Eastern and Durham Western respectively.
John Johnson Alnwick died in 1947 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Richard Lucock Alnwick serving with the Durham Light Infantry initially listed as missing was confirmed to have died September 16th 1916 on the Somme. He was 34 years of age and single.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In peace.
Harrison Alnwick is not remembered on a local War Memorial.
He is remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 229
