Robert Rutherford, one of 10 children of whom only 9 survived, was the youngest of 3 sons and had 6 elder sisters. 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, April 2nd 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).

Robert Rutherford of Vivian Cottage Gardens, Walbottle, Northumberland, enlisted December 9th 1915 and posted to the Army Reserve untill mobilised, March 20th 1916, assigned as Driver 72652, No. 4 Depot Royal Garrison Artillery at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, a training facility for gunners part of the coastal defences as well as supplying men for the draft. April 29th 1916 he was posted as Gunner to the 161st Heavy Battery and departed from Southampton, July 27th 1916 arriving the following day at Le Havre. Gunner Rutherford remained with his unit until August 2nd 1916 when he posted to the 135th Heavy Battery. During spring and early summer 1917 he was plagued with illness, January 20th-30th he was admitted to hospital suffering from trench fever, February 3rd 1917 he was admitted to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport with tonsillitis, fully recovered without requiring any intervention, he returned to his unit on the 13th. Suffering from myalgia March 18th 1917 he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian Depot until the 23rd and again returning May 11th to the 24th when he returned to the base depot re-joining the 135th Heavy Battery. Ending his service with the 117th Heavy Battery he was discharged March 3rd 1918 and posted to Class Z, November 21st, after the Armistice under the obligation to return to his unit should hostilities with Germany resume. This was abolished with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919 which officially brought the war to an end. Awards British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His discharge came just before the news that his elder brother Guardsman William Rutherford Grenadier Guards had been killed in action, March 30th 1918. It was August 1919, during the clearing of the battlefields, before the family received news that his remains had been found in a small concentration. Tragedy struck again with the death of his mother Mary Rutherford nee Watson during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1918, registered at Castle Ward, Northumberland.

Post war Robert was married in 1919 at Gateshead, County Durham to local girl Annie Lizzie Watson born April 24th 1888. In 1939 they were living at 3, Vivian’s House, Newburn, Northumberland where he was employed as a hay cutter.

Annie Rutherford nee Watson died aged 69 years in 1957, her death was preceded by that of her husband Robert in 1954 aged 65 years, both registered in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.