Randall Green
Photo: B. Chandler
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
In Horton (St James) Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
In loving memory of
Mary
beloved wife of
Samuel Green
of Hartford Colliery
who died July 6th 1912
aged 58 years.
Randall, their son was lost
in the North Sea battle
May 30th 1916, aged 25 years
John & Selina, their
children died in infancy
also the above Samuel
who died Jan. 31st 1930,
aged 77 years.
“Peace, perfect peace”.
also Robert Green of Bedlington,
dear husband of Beatrice,
who died Jan. 26th 1962,
aged 86 years.
Ron Carson has provided the following:
Randall was the youngest son of Samuel and Mary Green of East Row, Horton. He was born in Morpeth in the second quarter of 1887 and baptised at Bedlington on 26 September 1888. He married Mary J (nee Graham) in the first quarter of 1916.
He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland and his body was never recovered for burial.
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
Randall Green was born at Hartford, a village south of Bedlington, in 1887 the son of Samuel and Mary Green. He was baptised at St Bede’s RC Church at Bedlington. His father, a coal miner, was from Norfolk and his mother was born at Bedlington, Northumberland. In 1891 his family lived at Hartford Colliery.
In 1901, Randall was 14 years old and living at East Row, Hartford with his parents and siblings Laura 15, Daniel 15, Sophia 11, Beatrice 9, Alice 7, Catherine 4 and Florence aged 2.
By 1911 Randall’s family had moved to 8, Shotton Street, Hartford where Randall now aged 24 was working in the coal mines as a hewer. The census for that year shows his mother had given birth to 14 children and 12 were still living. Randall was a footballer and was named as playing for Morpeth Albion in October 1912.
He married Mary Jane Graham in the spring of 1916.
The Blyth News 25/05/1917 contains the following notice.
In affectionate remembrance of my dear husband Randall Green of Hartford who lost his life at the Battle of Jutland on May 31st 1916. One year has passed when from home he took his leave. In youth and health we little thought the humble grave did wait for his return. I think of him in silence. No eye may see me weep but deep down in my heart his memory I will keep - ever remembered by his loving wife Mary Jane Green.
Randall Green is remembered in Bedlington on B15.01, in Bedlington Station on B163.04 and on our List of Ships’ crews
