Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Rutherford, one of 10 children of whom only 9 survived, was the 2nd born of 3 sons and had 5 elder and one younger sister. His parents were both born in Northumberland, Robert Rutherford at Thorneyburn in 1842, Mary Watson at Warden in 1847 where they were married, January 26th 1867. Their son Edward was born in 1868, Mary Jane 1871 and Ellen 1873 whilst Robert was employed as an agricultural labourer in the villages of Warden and Newbrough near Hexham, Northumberland. They left Northumberland post 1873 and moved briefly to County Durham where Mary gave birth at Winlaton to Isabella and Sarah, born 1877 and 1879 respectively. Within two years they had returned to Northumberland settling at Ovingham, birthplace of Margaret Ann in 1881, before they transferred to a cottage in the village of Ruchester near Otterburn. Still working the land and in search of employment Robert and Mary moved on several occasions over the next 10 years. William was born at Heddon in 1882, Elizabeth at Ovingham in 1887 and Robert Jnr at Winlaton in 1889. Edward (23) had joined his father as an agricultural labourer by 1891 and they now occupied 1 On Close Cottage, Wylam, he was now the eldest still living at home.
Robert Rutherford Snr was aged 57 years when he died in 1899, Mary moved her family to Golden Lion Yard, Corbridge, in 1901 Edward (33) was not listed under any occupation, as he was born deaf and dumb and no longer able to work alongside his father, he was unemployable. William (18) was working as a groom, Elizabeth (14) as a servant and Robert Jnr (12) a stable boy/groom. By 1911 they had moved into 6 rooms at 2, River View, Ryton on Tyne, County Durham, William (28) and Robert (22) working as a hay cutter and road-man respectively, now supported their mother, brother Edward, widowed sister Margaret Ann and her daughter, Mary Nixon (7).
When war was declared in 1914 William was 32 years of age, his departure to the front was post January 1916. He may have been conscripted when the Military Service Act came into being March 2nd 1916 as his brother, Robert Rutherford, had enlisted in 1915 and given the fact Edward was unable, due to his disability, to support his family, William would have been greatly relied upon. In the absence of any service document it is impossible to know exact details.
He was posted at the time of his enlistment as Guardsman 29957 to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Three battalions were in existence when war broke out, the 2nd Battalion was mobilised immediately and sent to France in August 1914 followed by the 1st Battalion in October to Belgium where it participated during the 1st Battle of Ypres and several major battles on the Somme, at Cambrai, Arras and the Hindenburg Line.
Guardsman 29957 William Rutherford Grenadier Guards was killed in action March 31st 1918 and together with 3 of his comrades, Guardsman Sutcliffe and Moore 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and Guardsman Nevilles 1st Battalion Welsh Guards of Murton Colliery, County Durham, was buried on the battlefield in the Arras sector, all marked with a cross bearing military details.
After the Armistice at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing of the battlefields began and went on well into the 1920’s. Isolated graves and smaller concentration were brought into larger cemeteries for permanent burial. The remains of the 4 Guardsmen were found at map reference 51b. S. 11. d. 3. 5. with the crosses still intact, they were exhumed and taken in to Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, France, August 16th 1919, which had been used throughout most of the war by the Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Stations. With all reverence and honour Guardsman Rutherford was laid to rest by an Army Chaplain, grave VI. E. 26, he was 36 years of age and single. His grave is flanked to the left by Guardsman Sutcliffe and Nevilles, E. 24 and E.25 and to the right by Guardsman Moore, E. 27.
It was his widowed sister Mrs. Margaret Ann Nixon who received, as sole legitimate, all monies owed to William from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, as tragically William was aware that during his absence, his mother, Mary Rutherford nee Watson had died only a few months earlier, 2nd quarter (Apr.May/Jun) 1918, registered at Castle Ward, Northumberland.
William’s younger brother Robert also served during WW1 with the Royal Garrison Artillery, he survived the conflict having served from 1915-1918.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Rutherford is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
