In Harton Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of Private William Brown Duncan, 1st/7th DLI (Pioneers) [attached to 3rd/7th DLI – ‘Gazette’, 27 July 1915], (1501), Died of Wounds and Gas Poisoning 21 July 1915, aged 20 or 21. Harton Cemetery. F.5319. (South Shields). (42).

Son of William Brown Duncan (a house and ship joiner) of 20 (?) Lytton Street, South Shields in 1911 and 32 Frederick Street, South Shields in June 1915. He was born in South Shields and in 1911 was a 58-year old widower. His death was registered in South Shields during the December quarter of 1938, aged 86.

Siblings (1911 ages; all born in South Shields): Emma 19, Edward Wilberforce 15 – September q. 1896; Lamp Lad with N.E.R. Co., Robert 10 and Charles Wilberforce 8 – June q. 1902.

Sisters: Emma and Aggie. Sister and brother-in-law: Lizzie and Jack (on active service).The chief mourners at his funeral included Mr. W.B. Duncan and Mr. Edward Duncan. Other mourners were Mr. Robert Duncan and Master Charles Duncan.

Born and enlisted in South Shields. He worked as a porter for the North Eastern Railway Company at Tyne Dock. He arrived in France on 19 April 1915 and was thus awarded the 1914-5 Star. He tells us in a letter published in the ‘Gazette’ that a piece of shell weighing two ounces penetrated his tunic but struck the copy of The Bible he was carrying on him, the latter absorbing the impact of the shrapnel and thereby saving his life.

Source: James Hoy Archive

He is remembered on the North East Railway Company Roll of Honour, York. His photograph appeared in the ‘Gazette’ on Tuesday 8 June 1915 and in an edition of the ‘N.E.R. Magazine’ in 1915.

He is remembered at South Shields on S86.009 where his rank is shown incorrectly and S86.100

The CWGC entry for Private Duncan