Edward Rumney
Edward Rumney
Edward Rumney
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Rumney, one of 7 children, of whom only 5 reached adulthood, was the youngest of his surviving siblings, 2 sons and 3 daughters. Born in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, his father Joseph Rumney was living at the age of 2 at Crook, County Durham, then Water Houses and Brandon as his father was in search of work as a coal miner. July 3rd 1875 Joseph was married at the parish church Ferryhill to local girl, 18-year-old Sarah Sample, daughter of saddler James Sample and Barbara Taylor, born December 16th 1856. He and his wife settled at 57, Cornwell Street, Annfield Plain, County Durham, where he was employed as a coal miner and by 1881 had two children, Maria Jane born 1877 at Ferryhill and Margaret 1879 at Dipton. They remained at Dipton for the next 10 years and extended their family with the birth of Elizabeth 1887 and Phyllis 1890 and in 1891 occupied rooms in Watersons Buildings. After the birth of their sons Joseph, May 14th 1892 and Edward 1894, they had, by 1901, transferred to Northumberland, living in 3 rooms at 11, North View, Walbottle, Northumberland. Maria Jane had married and to assist the family Margaret had found employment as a dressmaker, unfortunately it was here that Phyllis died in 1903 only 14 years of age. All their daughters had married and left the family home by 1911, Joseph (18) and Edward (17) were now both employed at the colliery as an apprentice fitter above ground and pony driver below ground respectively, their uncle James Sample lodged at their home employed as a screener below ground.
In peacetime Edward Rumney must have been a volunteer with the Territorial force as once hostilities began with Germany he was mobilised and assigned as Private 16763 to the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers joining his regiment in France, June 1st 1915. The 2nd Battalion had been at the front since January 1915 having been recalled from Sabathu, India, as part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division and joining the 84th Brigade, 28th Division, had participated during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, in Belgium, April 22nd-May 25th 1915 remaining in the sector.
Private 16763 Edward Rumney was wounded in the line of duty, evacuated back through the lines until he reached the town of Bailleul near the Belgian border, an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre. He died of wounds July 13th 1915, little more than 6 weeks after his arrival in France, and was interred at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France, grave 1. D. 112. Private Rumney was 21 years of age and single.
His father Joseph as sole beneficiary received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to him at 11, North View, North Walbottle, Newburn, Northumberland. He commissioned at a cost of 3 shillings 6 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Lest We Forget.”
Although Joseph Rumney Jnr would also have been eligible to serve no record has been found, his brother in law Charles Airey, was a Driver with the Royal Army Service Corps and survived the conflict.
Joseph Rumney Snr of Aged Miners Homes, Westerhope died February 25th 1932 aged circa 80 years, effects to miner Charles Airey (son in law) in the sum of 554 pounds 1 shilling 1 pence. In 1939 his widow Sarah Rumney nee Sample was living at 6 Miners Cottages, Newburn, Northumberland, she died aged 88 years in 1945, registered at Northumberland South, including Westerhope.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Rumney is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
