Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Walter Braithwaite, one of 11 children plus one deceased, gender unknown, was the youngest of 4 brothers and had 3 elder and 4 younger sisters. His father William Braithwaite Snr originated from Barrow in Furnace, Lancashire, where he was born in 1861. Having migrated north, he settled in Cumberland where he met Betsy Graham, born at Maryport in 1865 and baptised, October 22nd 1865, the daughter of a coal miner and innkeeper, who at the time was employed as a servant in the home of David and Sarah Knowles at 41, Henry Street, Workington. Whilst William was 20 years of age Betsy was only 16 which may explain why they were married, August 7th 1881, in the village of Camerton, several miles away also settling there for a while where their eldest child John William was born in 1882. Although they remained in Cumberland the family moved frequently to enable William to find work. In 1891, employed as a general labourer, he was now supporting his wife and a further 3 children, Sarah Elizabeth born 1886 at Workington, Edmund, September 6th 1888 at Alston and Edith at Workington in 1890. Between 1891 and 1893 the Braithwaite family returned to Alston, where Betsy gave birth to Hannah and Wilson in 1893 and 1895 respectively, but then moved to Cockermouth, the birthplace of Walter in 1896 and finally returned to Workington 2 years later welcoming a further 2 children, Rebecca in 1898 and Beatrice 1901. Living at 78, Victoria Road in 1901, William and his son John William (19) supported the family employed as a steel worker and railways labourer respectively until by 1906 they had moved to Peggs Wood, Northumberland, birthplace of daughters Annie Holmes and Elsie in 1906 and 1907, however, by 1911 they had moved yet again into 4 rooms at 32, Millfield Crescent, Castle Ward, Newburn, Northumberland and also taken in their nephew, 24-year-old Edmund Sargent, a wagon-way-man. William Braithwaite was employed as a coal refiner, John William (29) was not listed as employed, Edmund (22) as a coal miner/putter, Wilson (16) and Walter (14) were pit pony drivers, Hannah (18) assisted her mother at home caring for Annie (5) and Elsie (3). The house proved to be too small for all their children, Sarah Elizabeth who had married in 1909 to Edward Watts and was living at 26, Millfield Crescent took in her sister Rebecca (13), also missing from the household are Edith (21) and Beatrice (10), whereabouts unknown.
Between 1911 and 1914 the Braithwaite family had moved to 4, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, Northumberland. Walter. a miner, was attested December 14th 1915 at Newburn, declaring he was 19 years and 7 months of age, however, he was posted to the Army Reserve until being mobilised, May 20th 1918 and posted as Private 100258 to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a battalion of the Regular Army, joining his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
One week prior to his mobilisation Walter Braithwaite was married at Heddon-on-the-Wall, April 13th 1918 to local girl Ellen Gibson, born 1897.
He underwent training and departed for the Western Front, September 18th 1918, joining his regiment in the field during fierce fighting in the final push leading to the defeat of the German Army.
Private 100258 Walter Braithwaite Durham Light Infantry was killed in action more than 3 weeks after his arrival at the front, October 18th 1916, and only weeks away from the Armistice on November 11th 1918 and interred at Bohain Station Military Cemetery, map reference 62b. D. 14. c. 9. 5. He was 22 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension of 13 shilling 9 pence a week as of May 19th 1919 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at Carter Cottages, Heddon-on-the Wall, Northumberland.
Ellen had fallen pregnant prior to Walter’s departure, 6 months after his demise their son, whom she named Walter Potts Braithwaite, was born March 19th 1919.
In 1923 Ellen received news that it had been necessary to exhume the remains of her husband along with all British graves at Bohain Cemetery for reburial within Premont British Cemetery, Aisne, France. He is now at rest grave I. AA. 18.
Further record pertaining to Ellen Braithwaite nee Gibson have not been found. It is reasonable to considered having being widowed at only 21 years of age that she remarried at some point, however, no concrete evidence has been found for this or indeed a death entry.
Walter and Ellen’s son Walter was married in 1940 at Ripon, Yorkshire West Riding to Doris M. Hewson. Walter Potts Braithwaite of Gallows Hill, Ripon died January 19th 1987 aged 67 years, his demise registered at Clare, North Yorkshire.
It should be noted the CWGC have in error listed Private Braithwaite as service number 100268 although his military record and other documents issued by them give his number as 100258.
In Gods safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Walter Braithwaite is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 288
