St. Bartholomew's Churchyard
In St Bartholomew's Churchyard is a headstone shaped like a book which reads:-
Left hand side
To the undying
Memory of
Richard Watson
Dearly beloved son of
William and Hannah Simpson
Who ???
Left hand side
Also of??
Their son who died
July 8th 19??
Aged 9½ years
Also of William
Their son who was killed
In Action in France
????
Margaret Burgess has submitted the following:-
William born 16th November 1897 at Cross Canonby Cumberland was the son of William and Hannah Simpson. In 1911 the family were at Ryton on Tyne. Richard Watson his brother was born in 1909. At some point they moved to 1 Oswald Road, Newbiggin by the Sea.
Naval records detail - Army Reserve 03/03/1916; Entered 09/07/1917; Draft for BEF 05/11/1917, joined Hawke Bn. 24/11/1917-05/12/1917 Diphtheria, Invalided to UK 15/01/1918 ; Draft for BEF 01/04/1918, joined Hawke Bn. 07/04/1918. He was killed 8th October 1918 and is buried at Proville British Cemetery his father added the inscription Out of the noise of Battle to God’s eternal Peace to his headstone.
He was a recipient of the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
William Simpson is remembered in Newbiggin by the Sea on N10.06, N10.14 and N10.15
