Photo: Sarah Robson

Sarah Robson has provided the following:

John Diamond was born on 4th March 1883 in 18 Tennant Street, New Town, Hebburn, he was the only son of Andrew Diamond (who came to Tyneside in the late 1860s - early 1870s from Derry to find work and an escape from a famine ridden Ireland) and Sarah Diamond (nee Bradley born in Northumberland to Irish parents) who resided in the bottle houses in Bill Quay until John was born.

According to the church registers John Diamond married Sarah Ann Watson in St. Aloysius church, Hebburn on 26th December 1901 and were down as living in 22 Thistle Street Hebburn.

On November 26th 1914 he signed up to the Tyneside Irish Battalion, it is likely he may of seen the advertisements in the local newspapers, a call for all Irish and Irish descended men to step up and join the brigade. John then became a part of 26th Northumberland Fusiliers 3rd Tyneside Irish. He went on to fight in the Battle of the Somme and is named in the 'Tyneside Irish' book written by John Sheen, and in this book he is listed as living in 21 William Street, Hebburn Colliery and it states his 'transfer' was to "To Kings Own Yorkshire LI, Army Ordnance corps" and it also states "Also on C COY 30th BN Roll". I don't have a clue as to what either of those mean though!

He went on to have 13 children with the last child 'Sarah' dying in 1993 (1 year before I was born!).

John Diamond died on May 4th 1963 aged 81 and his wife, my great, great Grandmother Sarah Ann died February 15th 1950 aged 65. Both died in Hebburn and are buried in Hebburn Cemetery, sadly with no headstone or memorial.