Pension Card
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robley Strong one of 7 children of whom 3 had died in infancy by 1911, was the eldest of 2 brothers and had 2 elder sisters. His father George Strong Snr born at Penrith, Cumberland, in 1861 was only 7/8 years of age when his mother Dorothy Strong nee Robley died aged 41 years. George’s (Snr) father, coal agent, George Strong was left with the responsibility of 4 children under the age of 16 and took the decision soon after his wife’s death of sending young George (Snr) to live with his uncle and aunt, George and Elizabeth Stephenson, at Castleside, County Durham. His uncle George was a grocer, however ten years later, he at the age of 19 was a labourer at Consett Iron and Steel Works.
George Snr was married at the Primitive Methodist Church, Shotley Bridge, February 21st 1882 to Mary Colling born January 7th 1857 at Arkengarthdale, Yorkshire, whose family had moved to the local area. Daughter Dorothy was born in 1883, Hannah Elizabeth October 5th 1886, baptised January 4th 1887 at Shotley Bridge, Robley 1894 and George Jnr in 1898, baptised at Shotley Bridge, June 21st. They had moved to 1, Consett Road, Castleside by 1901, George supported his family employed as a weigh-man at the iron works, with the exception of Hannah (14), who had moved into the home of her uncle and aunt, Joseph and Margaret Lee and their 4 children at 1, Watergate, in the village of Watergate where her uncle was a farmer and cartman for his own account. The Strong family had moved to Teasdale by 1909 and Hannah was married that same year to William Soulsby with whom she had a son George William Gorden Soulsby, she had moved back into the family home by 1911, it consisted of 3 room at Boldron, Barnard Castle. George Snr worked for Startforth Rural Council as a road man/labourer, Dorothy and Hannah assisted their mother in the home, George Jnr (12) was a scholar, Robley (16) was employed as a servant/farm labourer at Startforth Farm, Rokeby, Barnard Castle, the holding of John and Elizabeth Raine.
When war was declared in August 1914 Robley was 19/20 years of age, old enough to enlist and to be drafted to the front. Robley, who at the time was still living at Barnard Castle, after his enlistment was posted to Richmond, Yorkshire, joining the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery to be trained as a Gunner. He departed as Gunner 63159, September 26th 1915, to France. assigned to ‘B’ (Howitzer) Battery of the 131st R.F.A. which joined in late January 1917 the 18th Brigade R.F.A. and was renamed “D’ Battery, until August 1917 under the command of the 4th Canadian Division. Once detached from the Canadians the brigade moved to Belgium attached to the 5th Army, involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, which raged on the Ypres salient, July 31st to November 10th 1917.
Gunner 63159 Robley Strong Royal Field Artillery was killed in action, September 30th 1917 and interred at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France, grave I. C. 53. He was 23 years of age and single.
His father George received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, he also commissioned at a cost of 4 shillings 1 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military gravestone, it reads, “Ever Remembered.”
His parents were still grieving his loss when news arrived that their youngest son Private George Strong serving with the North Staffordshire Regiment was missing in action in Belgium, he was later confirmed as dead, the CWGC adopting the date of April 15th 1918.
George Strong Snr continued to work for the Rural Council until 1931, retiring at the age of 65 years, the following year he and Mary celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
George Strong died aged 74 years in 1933, district of Teasdale, his widow in 1939 was living at Old Station House, Crook and Willington district, with widow Dinah Parker, further details as yet unconfirmed.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robley Strong is remembered at Castleside on C113.01 and C113.05 and at Startforth on S150.01 and S150.02
