Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Isaac Waugh, one of 11 children, was the 3rd born of 5 brothers, he had 4 elder and 2 younger sisters. His father Isaac Waugh Snr was born at Redpath, Haltwhistle, Northumberland in 1857, where he was baptised, September 12th, the only son of railway labourer, Isaac Waugh and wife Mary. he had 3 elder siblings who died, Ann and Ann in infancy and Mary, aged 17, January 21st 1871, buried in the family grave within St. Cuthbert’s graveyard, Greenhead, Northumberland. He was living with his parents at New Angerton in 1871 but had moved with his father to Duffon Foot, in the township of Thirwell after the death of his mother, aged 61 years, August 5th 1878, who was buried with her children. His father was employed as a collier, Isaac (23) as a coke burner, they were assisted by a housekeeper, widow Hannah Elliott (65).
Isaac Waugh Snr was married, June 9th 1883 at Alston, Cumberland, to Rebecca Annie Robson, born 1861, Allendale, Northumberland, baptised April 26th at Carrshields. They settled at Haltwhistle and happily before his death, November 24th 1886, Isaac Waugh, became a grandfather to Mary born 1885 and Jane 1886, he too is buried at St. Cuthbert’s in the family grave. Before they moved to Woodhead they had a further 2 children Susannah 1888, John 1889. Isaac was employed at the colliery at Woodhead as a stationary engine fireman, where Thomas was born in 1891, daughter Margaret Ellen 1892, Isaac Jnr 1894 at New Angerton, Annie 1897 at Greenhead, William and Elizabeth at Castle Terrace in 1898 and 1900, their youngest Ernest, September 6th 1902 at Greenhead.
Rebecca Annie Waugh nee Robson died in 1909, in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, listed as Annie Rebecca Waugh, she was 49 years of age. In 1911 eight of his children were still living at home, they occupied 3 rooms at 7, Burns Close, Callerton, Westerhope. Isaac was employed at the colliery as a stone-man, John (21) a hewer, Thomas (19) a putter, Isaac Jnr (16) below ground as a pony driver. Jane (25) is listed as house keeper, Margaret (18) also remained at home, Elizabeth (11) and Ernest (8) were scholars attending school with their cousin Florie Martin (8) whom they had taken into their home.
Britain declared war with Germany, August 4th 1914, all regiments raised new battalion with enthusiastic volunteers from all walks of life in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms. Isaac left his employment and enlisted at Newburn, assigned to the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers of the Territorial Force, he joined his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, as Private 984. In peacetime the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalion formed the Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division and had been re-designated as the 1st/4th with the formation of a 2nd Line in November 1914. They underwent an intensive period of training at Newcastle and Blyth before receiving orders to depart to the front.
Private Waugh departed with his regiment April 20th 1915, disembarking at Boulogne. Within a week without any nursery training in trench warfare they had moved south to Belgium and were fighting for their lives on the salient during the Battle of St. Julien, part of the British counterattack after the Germans had attacked using poison gas. They also saw action at Frezenburg Ridge, May 8th-13th, phases of the 2nd Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th, where they suffered heavy casualties and during which, May 14th 1915, they were re-designated as the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. They fought at Bellewaarde in June 1915.
The division was in the Montiny-en-Gohelle sector in August 1915 in training with the III Corps and unlike other divisions of the III Corps did not participate with them in any major offences on the Somme until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd 1916, Morval, September 25th-28th and Le Transloy, October 1st-18th.
Private Waugh rose to the rank of Lance Corporal during his time on the Western Front, was renumbered as 37480 in late 1916 early 1917 and posted from the 4th Battalion to the newly formed 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers part of Kitchener’s New Armies which had arrived in France as of April 9th 1916.
At the conclusion of the Battles of the Somme the 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, moved to the Arras sector participating during the spring offensive at the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe and the Battle of Arleux, phases of the Battles of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917.
Lance Corporal 37480 Isaac Waugh Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, April 9th 1917 on the first day of the Battles of Arras and interred at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy, begun by the 34th Division in April 1917. Lance Corporal Waugh was 23 years of age and single, he is at rest, grave I. D. 13.
Lance Corporal Waugh was the recipient of the Military Medal, awarded for gallantry and devotion to duty when under fire in battle on land. On the reverse the medal is inscribed, “For Bravery In The Field,” the recipient is entitled to use the letters M.M. after their name.
His father received all monies due to his son from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Military Medal sent to him at 7, Burns Close, Callerton, Westerhope, Northumberland, also a pension. He commissioned at a cost of 13 shillings 5 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Ever Remembered By Loving Father, Brothers And Sisters,”
His brothers John, Thomas and William would also have been eligible to serve, no records have been found.
Isaac Waugh Snr died in 1935 in the district of Castle Ward (including Westerhope) in 1935, he was 78 years of age.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Isaac Waugh is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
