Photo: Vin Mullen
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol. 2 page 217
In Jarrow Cemetery is a family headstone for McVitie which reads:
In memory of
William McVitie
Born July 2nd 1849
Died Jan 11th 1922
Also William J. McVitie
son of the above
killed in action Sep.25th 1915
aged 24 years.
Also Janet
Daughter of the above
Born Sep 29th 1882.
Died April 4th 1927.
Also Margaret wife of the above
Died Feb. 19th 1932, aged 81 years
“Until the day dawns”
Agnes Jane Finlay
Died Feb. 8th 1959 aged 77 years
William M. Finlay her dear husband
Died Oct. 4th 1960 aged 84
Vin Mullen has provided the following:
William Johnston McVitie. 1st/9th Battalion London Regiment. Age 24. Born Whitburn 1891. Lived Regents Park London. Enlisted Camden Town. Son of William and Margaret McVitie (nee Hogg) of 55 Monkton Terrace Jarrow.
He was born at Whitburn 8th February 1891, only son of William McVitie, (55 Monkton Terrace, Jarrow-on-Tyne, Durham), and his wife Margaret, daughter of John Hogg, a Farmer.
Patrick was educated at the Jarrow Croft Terrace School and Elswick Works School. He was a Clerk but had enlisted into the 1/19th Battalion (St Pancras) London Regiment on the 8th September 1914.
Sent to France on the 10th March 1915, he was killed in action near Loos on the 25th September 1915.
Captain Sir. F. Cassell wrote:-I was indeed sorry to hear of your son's death, the while I commanded 'A' Company, your son was one of the most reliable N.C.O,s I had, and when there was any work which required discretion and ability as well as courage, his name was the first to occur to me, and I always found him ready to volunteer. You have every reason to be proud of him.
Lieutenant F. Ward: Your son was a good fellow, my comrade, and I must say my Friend.He was single.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
