William Ivinson, one of 8 children, of whom only 7 survived, was the 2nd born of 6 brother and had 1 elder sister. His father Joseph Ivinson had a very hard upbringing. Born at Scaleby, Cumberland, in circa 1868, at the age of 3 years he was living with his grandparents Walter Palmer, blacksmith, and his wife Jane, near Burn Hill, Cumberland, however, by the age of 13 he was employed as an errand boy and an inmate at Tower Street Boys Refuge, home for destitute boys in the district of All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. In his early 20’s he was employed as a cartman and married in 1890 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Margaret King, born at Newcastle in 1872. They settled at 10, Barrack Square, near Gallowgate, Newcastle, their daughter Frances Mary was born in 1891 and over the next ten years his wife gave birth to a further 4 children, John Joseph in 1892, William 1895, Walter, November 16th 1896 and James in 1899. By 1901 they had moved to 44, Diana Street, Joseph supported his family working as a gas stoker. Their son Alexander was born in 1903, Thomas in 1907, in the census of 1911, they and their 7 children were living in 3 rooms at 4, Priestman’s Cottage, Benwell, Newcastle, Joseph was still employed at the gas works, John Joseph (18) as a putter at the colliery, William (16) and Walter (14) as drivers, James (12) and Alexander (8) were scholars, Thomas (4) remained at home with this mother and sister Frances (20). Margaret Ivinson nee King died in 1912 aged 40 years.

In 1914 the Ivinson family were living at 15, Agnes Maria Street, Coxlodge, near Gosforth, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, William was in the employ of Buradon and Coxlodge Coal Co. Ltd., as a miner. He enlisted at Gosforth, February 23rd 1914 with his brother John Joseph, both were assigned to the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, part of the Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division, of the Territorial Force as Private 1942 and 1943 respectively, stationed at Gosforth Park by October 13th 1914.

The brothers departed for the Western Front, April 20th 1915, where their regiment, without any nursery training or trench familiarisation, participated during the 2nd Battle of Ypres in Belgium, April 22nd-May 25th 1915. In the midst of the battle William was wounded, a gunshot wound to the arm (left shoulder) and hip, April 28th 1915. Evacuated back through the lines, he would have been taken to one of the hospital and rail heads before being sent back to England aboard a hospital ship, May 2nd 1915, arriving the following day.

Private William Ivinson remained in England after his recovery and was in the process of being transferred to the 352nd Home Service Labour Corps Durham Light Infantry as Private 184257 when the Medical Board decided he be transferred to Army Reserve Class P, June 8th 1917. Class P enabled William to receive a pension and be discharged from the Army, which occurred, April 10th 1918. Awards 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

During his recovery William would have been made aware that his brother Private John Joseph Ivinson had been killed, October 15th 1915, also eligible to serve during WW1 was his younger brother Walter Ivinson. He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers but was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve due to the excess of volunteers for the Army.

After his return from the front William had married in 1915, district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, to Jane Ann Humble, born December 17th 1895, district of Tynemouth. They settled at 84, Hambledon Street, Blyth, Northumberland.

William Ivinson of 11, Wembley Terrace, Cambois, Bedlington died at The General Hospital, Washington, Northumberland, May 15th 1962, aged 67 years, effects £1042 7 shillings to Jane Ann Ivinson, widow. Jane Ann Ivinson nee Humble died aged 83 years in 1978, registered at Northumberland Central.

The death of William’s father, Joseph Ivinson, who died aged 82 years in 1950, was registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.