Photo: Brian Chandler
In Hexham St. Andrew's Cemetery is a family headstone which resembles a CWGC headstone which reads:-
Lionel Davey Plummer
Captain, 4th Batt. N.F.
Killed in Action
In France 15th Sep. 1916
Aged 25
Buried at
Adanac Military Cemetery
Unreadable France
Lionel Davy Plummer was the eldest son of Mr G H Plummer and a grandson of Joseph Catherall - who founded the local newspaper, The Hexham Courant. Consequently his death was reported extensively and, as he was a member of so many sports clubs, he also appears on many memorials.
He was the son of George Henry and Lizzie Plummer, of Glengarth, Hexham, and also husband of Isabella Plummer, of Oakfield, Hexham, Northumberland.
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 25/09/1916 reports:
Capt. L.D. Plummer killed.
The sad news reached Mr. and Mrs. Plummer, of Glengarth, Hexham, on Saturday, that their eldest son, Captain L.D. Plummer, N.F., previously reported wouded, has been killed in action.
Barry Greenbank adds to the story:
Lionel was born 8th February 1891 in Mysore and baptised in Madras.
11th October 1892 Lionel and Mrs. Plummer arrived in London from Calcutta on the 'Calconda'. Lionel was educated at St. Bees and Balliol House, Harrogate.
Their names do not appear in the 1901 Census.
In 1911, their address was 19 Hextol Terrace, Hexham. Father George Henry was aged 56, and had been born at Castle Blayney, Co. Monaghan. He was a newspaper proprietor (Hexham Courant). His wife Lizzie, now aged 43, had been born in Hexham. There were three children, including Lionel, now aged 20, who was assistant newspaper manager. His brother Benjamin Douglas, born in Hexham, now aged 18, was a mining student. There were also two servants.
In 1915 Lionel married his wife Isabella at Hexham.
Following his death, probate showed his estate to be worth £1,019 5s 1d.
Lionel played 2 cricket matches for Northumberland in 1913 at Tynedale.
The date of Lionel's death was the day when tanks were first used in battle. Lionel is reported to have been seen in the front line near the tanks and was last seen going forward with them.
Lionel Davey Plummer is remembered at Corbridge on C52.05 in Jesmond onJ1.12 in Hexham on H51.03, H51.06, H51.26, H51.30, H51.35, H51.46, H51.51 and H51.52