Colin McMillan has provided the following:
Ralph Blanche (note the spelling) was born in 1893 at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. He was the second child of James Blanche, a coal miner banksman, and Francis J Blanche.
In 1901, when Ralph was 7, his siblings were Hilda G (11), Lena (4) and Harry D (1). All were born in Newbiggin except father James and Harry who were born in North Seaton where they were living at the time.
By 1911 the family (surname now spelt Blanch) had moved to Morpeth and were living at 11 George and Dragon Yard. 43 year old James was now described as a “stone miner in a coal mine”. His wife, Frances Jane Blanch was also 43 and Ralph Watson Blanch (18) was single and worked as a coal miner putter. Lena Gordon Blanch (14) and Harry Dodds Blanch (11) ,who was still at school, completed the family, as Hilda G was no longer with them.
Ralph Watson Blanch had served in the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Queen’s Westminster Rifles as well as the 16th Kings Royal Rifle Corps. He died of wounds on 28th August 1918 and was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Ralph Watson Blanch is remembered in Morpeth on M17.01, M17.09 and M17.29
