Photo: Brian Chandler
In Ashington (Holy Sepulchre) Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
In
loving memory
of
Sarah
dearly beloved wife of
William Barnfather,
who died at Ashington August 16th 1915,
aged 6? years
the above William Barnfather
died August ?5th 1923
aged ? years
Mary Ann Scott, their daughter
died May 29th ? aged 41 years
also Petty officer William Barnfather, M.M.
their dearly beloved son,
killed in France Octr. 6th 1918
aged 24 years.
Also Pte. James William Barnfather
their dearly beloved grand-son
killed in France Sept. 21st 1917
aged 20 years.
Colin Boyd has submitted the following:
William was born on January 19th 1894 and was working as a miner living with his father, William, at 19, Fourth Row, Ashington when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Division on April 19th 1915. He served with the Nelson Battalion until October 30th 1915 when he went sick with diarrhoea. William rejoined his unit on February 24th 1916 and was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Gavrelle on June 13th 1917 (London Gazette 18/07/1917). Transferred to Drake Battalion on February 7th 1918 whilst serving with the Trench Mortar Battery William was promoted to Petty Officer on April 22nd 1918. He was killed in action on October 8th 1918.
William Barnfather is remembered at Ashington on A17.01 (A17.27), A17.06, A17.08, and A17.43
