Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Ancrum, one of 5 children of whom only 3 survived, was the youngest of 2 brothers and had an elder sister. His father Robert Donnison Ancrum was born in 1865, district of Stockton, however, his parents, Andrew Ancrum and Martha Donnison had moved to Gateshead, County Durham, by 1867. He was married to Hannah Eleanor Hume also known as Anna Eleanor, in 1885, native of Alnwick, Northumberland, where she was born in 1867. Their son Andrew was born at Gateshead, September 17th 1886 but they had transferred to Northumberland and were living at 19, Cowpen Road, Cowpen Village in 1891, Robert Donnison Ancrum was employed as a coal miner. Daughter Lily and Robert where born there in 1892 and 1896 respectively. Andrew (15) had joined his father at the colliery working below ground as a driver by 1901, they had also moved the 10 miles or so from Cowpen to 245, Litchfield Terrace, Pegswood, near Morpeth, Northumberland. Robert was their only child still living at home by 1911, Andrew and Lily had both married. Although only 14 years of age he had joined his father at the colliery working as a driver, they occupied 3 rooms at 9, Simpson Terrace, Walbottle, Northumberland.
When war was declared in 1914 he was circa 18 years of age and one of the first to enlist at Newburn, assigned as Private 2783 to the Territorial Force, 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, joining his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. In peacetime the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions formed the Northumberland Brigade, Northumbrian Division and had been redesignated 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, however, Private Ancrum was not amongst the first wave, he joined his regiment at the front, departing to France, September 7th 1915, once he had turned 19 years of age and became eligible for service overseas.
At the time of his arrival, the division, which had been redesignated as the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, May 14th 1915, was in the Montigny-en-Gohelle sector, 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 2783 Robert Ancrum Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, September 15th 1916, on the first day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, his body was buried on the battlefield by his comrades and later exhumed and brought into Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France. Adanac Cemetery was created after the Armistice of 1918 by the bringing in of graves from the battlefields around Courcelette and small cemeteries around Miraumont with the exception of one grave, IV. B. 30, which was left in its original position and around which the entire cemetery was formed. Private Ancrum was laid to rest with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain, grave VIII. C. 5, circa December 4th 1920. At the time of his demise in 1916 he was 20 years of age and single.
His mother received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 93, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, Northumberland. May 1st 1917 she was awarded a weekly pension of 12 shillings 6 pence.
Robert’s brother Andrew was married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, in 1909 to Sarah Ebblewhite born at Castle Eden Colliery in 1888 and with whom he had a son, John Robert, born March 10th 1911. Newly married they lived with her parents and siblings at 13, North View, North Walbottle, Newburn, Northumberland, where he was employed as a coal miner, as were his male in laws in various capacities. He served with the Navy from November 20th 1915-April 19th 1919, service number M16808, awards, British War Medal. Andrew Ancrum (42) of 20, Culey Hill Terrace, North Walbottle was killed, November 20th 1928, by a fall of stone at the Brockwell seam at High Pit, North Walbottle Colliery, owned by North Walbottle Coal Co. Ltd. Alongside other men he was engaged in lifting stones from the floor when a large boulder fell on top of him crushing his head and back.
Lily Ancrum married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland, in 1915 to Philip A. Allen. Lily Allen nee Ancrum died aged 26-years in 1919, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Robert and his wife outlived all 3 of their surviving children, Robert Donnison Ancrum (68) died in 1933, registered at Castle Ward, Northumberland, Anna Eleanor Ancrum nee Hume (75) in 1942, registered at Northumberland South.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Ancrum is remembered at Whorlton on W53,01
