Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Morpeth, one of 7 children of whom only 6 survived, was the second eldest of 4 surviving brothers and had 1 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Thomas Morpeth was born at Blanchland, Northumberland, in 1862, his mother Hannah Jameson at Hunstanworth, County Durham, near Blanchland, June 5th 1864, they were married in 1889 in the district of Weardale, daughter Hilda was born at Hunstanworth soon after. Having moved to Sheldon Road, Blanchland where Thomas was a butcher, listed as neither employed or an employer, over the next 8 years his wife gave birth to 3 sons, Thomas Jnr, George and Jonathan in 1893, 1896 and April 17th 1898 respectively. They had moved to the neighbouring street, Fellgrove, Blanchland by 1901, Thomas Snr was now a farmer and a butcher for his own account working from home, over the next ten years he was joined by Thomas and George as his assistants and the family grew with the birth of Matthew William, August 13th 1903 and Marian 1906.
When war was declared with Germany George was 18 years of age, having enlisted at Hexham, he was assigned to the 1/5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment as Private 46669, a battalion of the Territorial Force, part of York and Durham Brigade, Northumbrian Division.
During his son’s training period Thomas Morpeth Snr died, early 1915, aged 53-years.
Private Morpeth was posted to the front once he turned 19-years of age, eligible for service overseas. The battalion had departed to France, landing at Boulogne, April 17th 1915, he joined his regiment in the field as of January 1916. The 1st/5th Yorkshire Regiment, 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, in 1916 saw action during the Battles of the Somme, but did not take part in any major offensives until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, the Battle of Morval, September 25th-28th and Le Transloy, October 1st-18th 1916 before moving to the Arras sector participating during the Battles of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917. The division left France and moved to the Ypres salient in Belgium as preparations were underway for the Third Battle of Ypres which raged from July 31st-November 10th 1917. When the Germans attacked again on the Somme they were rushed back to France participating during the First Battles of the Somme as of March 28th 1918.
Private 46669 George Morpeth Yorkshire Regiment is presumed to have been killed in action, April 11th 1918 as he was reported as missing and is believed to have been buried within Croix-Du-Bac British Cemetery. The cemetery, begun in July 1916 was used by the Field Ambulance and fighting units until March 1918, as during April, Croix-Du-Bas fell into the hands of the Germans until it was retaken by the 23rd Lancashire Fusiliers, September 2nd 1918. The name of Private Morpeth is commemorated Special Memorial F. 17, he was 22 years of age and single.
His mother received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, she also applied for an Army pension.
Although Thomas and Jonathan Morpeth would also have been eligible to serve during WW1 no records have been found.
In 1939 Hannah was living with her son, farmer Jonathan Morpeth, his wife Lily Lumley, born, July 26th 1897, whom he had married in 1929, children Hylda born 1929, Audrey April 9th 1931, George 1934 and Mary 1935, in Blanchland village.
Hannah Morpeth nee Jameson died in the district of Northumberland West in 1941 aged 77-years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Morpeth is remembered at Blanchland on B40.01
