Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Donnison was the youngest of his siblings 2 brothers and 4 sisters, he also had 5 half siblings. His father James Donnison Snr, born at Corbridge, Northumberland, in 1856, was married, December 19th 1874, in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, to Dorothy Robson, born 1853 at Medomsley, County Durham, who had moved with her family to Newburn between 1861 and 1871. In search of work James moved his family extensively, daughter Margaret Ann was born at Gosforth in 1876, Elizabeth at Newburn in 1877, both in Northumberland, however, Isabella was born at Wardley in County Durham, in 1878. Two years later they were living at Whorlton, Northumberland, where Mary was born 1880 and William 1881 at Newburn. James Snr was an agricultural labourer, before returning to County Durham, settling at Willington, the birth place of James Jnr in 1883, who lost his mother aged only 4-years old as Dorothy Donnison nee Robson died in 1887 at Castle Ward, Northumberland aged 34 years.
James Donnison Snr remarried in 1890 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Catherine Robinson native of Fawdon, 15 years his junior, born 1871 and with whom he had a further 5 children, John 1892, Ada Jane 1893, Robert 1897, Katie 1899 and Harry 1901 whilst they were living at 4, Orchard Terrace, Newburn. James Snr had abandoned his work on the land and was now employed at the colliery as a carter, as was William (20) at the sand works, James Jnr (19) worked as a crane lad at the steel works. He was widowed for a second time when Catherine Donnison nee Robinson, aged 36 years of age, died at Castle Ward in 1907. James remained at Orchard Terrace after Catherine’s demise, in 1911 he, John (19) and Robert (14) were all working as labourers above ground at the colliery, Mary (30) attended to household duties, Catherine (12) and Harry (10) were scholars.
James Donnison Jnr had married in the district of Castle Ward in 1907 to Elizabeth Waters born March 23rd 1884, with whom by 1911 he had two children, Annie born, May 16th 1909 and Thomas Nesbit, March 15th 1911, while they were living in 3 rooms at 13, Derwent Avenue, Newburn. He supported his wife and children working as a colliery hewer. Their youngest child Mary Isabel was born March 18th 1914, within 5 months Britain was at war with Germany.
After the declaration of war all regiments raised new battalions. James Donnison enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was assigned as Private 1347 to the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals battalion raised in September 1914 by the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce. From Newcastle they were sent to Catterick, taken over by the War Office in April 1915, attached to the 96h Brigade, 32nd Division they departed for the Western Front, November 22nd 1915 landing at Boulogne that same day.
After months of training and minor skirmishes the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was tasked with taking the village of Thiepval on the opening day of the Battles of the Somme, due to commence June 29h but delayed due to bad weather until July 1st 1916. Private 1347 James Donnison Northumberland Fusiliers was initially reported as missing, however, Elizabeth received confirmation of his death, which is presumed to have occurred, “on or since July 1st 1916”, from the Records Office, York, July 25th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as on of the 72,337 names inscribed on the Thiepval memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating British and South African forces who fell on the Somme before March 20th 1918 and who have no known grave. James Donnison was 33 years of age.
As his widow she received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension of 26 shillings 6 pence a week as of February 26 1917, decreasing over the years as each of her children reached the age of 16 years and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 11, Old Row, North Walbottle, Northumberland.
Elizabeth remarried in the district of Castle Ward in 1922 to colliery hewer Matthew Kirton born June 8th 1901 and with whom she had a further 2 children, John, February 11th 1923 and Elizabeth, May 9th 1926 registered as mother Waters. In 1939 they were living at 15 Elm Street, Newburn, with her son Thomas Donnison who was employed above ground as a colliery screener, his half-brother John Kirton was an apprentice plater.
James and Elizabeth’s daughter Annie in 1939 was living at 9, Elm Street with her husband, coal hewer Thomas Edward Liddle, born April 7th 1908 whom she had married at Castle Ward in 1930. Annie Liddle nee Donnison of 3, Ingleton Drive, Throckley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died May 3rd 1992 aged 82 years.
Thomas Donnison was married in 1945 in County Durham to Margaret E. MacKenzie born 1917 at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, in 1957 they were living at Brampton Gardens, district of Throckley. Thomas Nesbit Donnison died in 1980, aged 69 years, Margaret E Donnison nee MacKenzie, aged 94 years, March 19th 2011.
Mary Isabel was married in 1934 at Castle Ward, to coal cutter, Wilfred Ritson, born March 1st 1915. In 1939 they were living at 6, Sycamore Street, Newburn, with their son Thomas Ritson born October 6th 1934. Wilfred Ritson died in 1957 aged 43 years, May Isabel remarried in 1966 to John Elliot Stathan, born December 18th 1914. His death preceded that of her own in 1980, aged 85 years, May Isabel Stathan-Ritson nee Donnison died aged 82 years in 1997 in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Her son Thomas Ritson married Margaret H. Brown in 1956, he died in 2005 aged 70 years, registered at Newcastle.
Elizabeth’s son from her second marriage, John Kirton died aged 23 years in 1946. Her daughter Elizabeth Kirton married in 1949 to John Waddle, she died in Northumberland, January 20th 2009, aged 82 years
Elizabeth Ritson-Donnison nee Waters died aged 72 years in 1956, registered in the district of Northumberland South.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Donnison is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01 and in the Battalion History
