Willington Cemetery

In Willington (County Durham) Cemetery there is a family headstone which reads:-

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

William McCarthy was born at Newbiggin, Northumberland in 1880 and married Ann Jane born 1876.

William McCarthy enlisted at Ashington, Northumberland in 1914 assigned as Private 16426 Northumberland Fusiliers, joining his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne he was transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion, part of Kitchener’s New Army. After initial training near home they were moved to Belton Park near Grantham and attached to the newly formed 11th Division. April 4th 1915 the Division assembled at Whitley and Frensham for final training. Attached to the 34th Brigade, 11th Division the 8th Battalion sailed from Liverpool, July 10th 1915, bound for Gallipoli where they landed near Lala Baba at Sulva Bay, August 6th 1915.

Severely wounded, exact date unknown, he was put aboard the hospital ship HS Alaunia, which had been anchored off the Mudros coast since May 1915, to be evacuated to England for treatment. En-route Private 16425 William McCarthy died of his wounds and buried at sea, he was 35 years old. His sacrifice is recorded on the Gibraltar Memorial just west of Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, Gibraltar. The memorial bears his name and that of 6 other soldiers from the 1914-1918 War and 91 airmen and soldiers who died during the 1939-1945 War who were buried at sea.

His widow Ann Jane of 10, Woodhouses Newbiggin-by-the-Sea received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their child and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. She commissioned at a cost of 5 shilling 10 pence an additional inscription to be added to the memorial, it reads, “Greater Love Hath No Man”.

Ann Jane died July 13th 1950 aged 74 years.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

William McCarthy is remembered at Newbiggin by the Sea on N10.06

The CWGC entry for Private McCarthy