Tyneside Scottish Badge
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
James William Atkinson (aka Atchison) according to his military records was born at Metherton, Forfar, Scotland. However, census reports indicate he was born in Northumberland. Is it possible he recorded Scotland to get into the Tyneside Scottish for some reason?
James was the son of Mrs Sarah Ann Atkinson.
James William Atchison married Mary Jane Taylor on 14th September 1907 at Ford, Northumberland when he was 24 and his wife, who was born in 1887, was 20. Her father was George Taylor who was employed as a shepherd.
In 1891 and 1901 Mary Jane lived in farm properties in the Ford and Belford area of Northumberland. By 1911, James William Atkinson was a colliery labourer below ground and his family were living at North Shotton, Cramlington where they had two children. In the census for that year James is shown to be born in Northumberland.
The book by Graham Stewart and John Sheen, Tyneside Scottish 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, indicates James being in the 23rd Battalion, born at Metherton, Scotland and associated with Bedlington, probably because he worked at Netherton Colliery.
James enlisted at Newcastle-on-Tyne and went to France on 9th January 1916. He died 1st July 1916 aged 34 years. His effects went to his widow Mary who in 1919 made an application for his medals when living at Tughall Lodge, Chathill, Northumberland.
James William Atkinson is remembered in Bedlington on B15.07
