E.C. Durnford
William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Eric was born at Rowsley, Derbyshire in 1897 and he was the son of Henry William and Ada Maud (nee Hall) who married at Bakewell June 11th 1893.
His siblings were Violet, Philip, Kathleen, Phoebe and Gertrude
The 1901 census show father, Henry, as a gritstone quarry manager. His family were all still at school. They also had a servant so were doing quite well.
1911 Eric was living as a boarder, along with 6 other young men, with Reverend Connor at Brunswick House Dormitories, Union Street, Barnet. He was aged 14 at this time and was working as a clerk (boy) in the tax collectors office.
He also worked for the General Electric Lighting Company, Witton, Birmingham. He was engaged in the milling section of the Switchgear Dept., at the company’s Witton works for over two years.
At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
He was sent to France on March 22nd 1915 and was with his regiment in France until June 1916, when he was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel and died in hospital the following day June 7th 1916.
The following inscription was added to his headstone :- “Our mothers proudly sent us to our death we, Proud to go RIP
Eric was awarded 1915 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Eric came from a long line of soldiers. His older brother, Philip, also served in the war but survived.
Eric Charles Durnford is remembered at Seaham Harbour where his parents live on S117.20
He is also remembered on the General Electric Company Roll of Honour 1914-18
