In Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 20/435 Private Edward Duncan serving with the 20th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 24/02/1917.

The Sunderland Echo 17/03/1917 reports:-
LOCAL CASUALTIES. Mrs E. Duncan, 10, North Ravensworth Street, Sunderland, has received an official intimation that her son, Pte. Edward Duncan. D.L.I., was killed in action on Feb. 24th. Prior to his enlistment he was employed as a holder up at the South Dock.

Edward’s sister Margaret Cook lived at 9 Greystoke Avenue Jesmond when he was killed.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Edward Duncan was one of 12 children of whom 9 are known by name and the census of 1911 states only 7 survived. 

His father William Alexander Duncan was born in Ireland in circa 1840 and having come to England was married to Elizabeth (surname possibly Graham) who also originated from Ireland where she was born in 1836. Their marriage took place at Sunderland in 1866.

Their eldest child William Alexander Duncan Jnr was born in Sunderland on June 27h 1867, Eliza in 1870, who sadly died within 6 months and James in 1871 whilst they were living at Jobling Street, where William was employed as a labourer. 

Over the next ten years his wife gave birth to a further 4 children, Sarah in 1873, Edward, December 16th 1875, Rebecca 1877 and Margaret, September 3rd 1878. They had remained at Jobling Street, William now worked at the iron yard as a machine man, with the exception of the two youngest, his children were scholars.

By 1891 William had moved his family into four rooms at 10, Ravensworth Street, Sunderland as he was now employed at the shipyards and had the help of his elder children to maintain his ever growing family. William Alexander Jnr (22) was employed as a blacksmith, James was serving his apprenticeship as a plater, Rebecca (17) was a dressmaker for her own account, Edward (15) was also employed at the shipyard as a machine oiler. Rebecca (13) and Margaret (11) were scholars as were the two youngest additions to the family, John (8) born in 1883 and Andrew (5), born August 15th 1885.

William Alexander Snr at the age of 60 was still employed as a steel plater. Edward (25) a holder upper, Andrew (14) a rivet heater, both employed at the shipyards and John (17) an apprentice fitter at the foundry, were still living at home with their parents in 1901, also in the household was grandson William Duncan (6), the son of William Alexander Duncan Jnr and his wife. The young man was still living with them in 1911, employed as a house painter and decorator. William Alexander Duncan was now retired, he and his wife were also supported by Edward (35) and John (28) still employed at the shipyard. 

When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany on August 4th 1914, all regiments were ordered to raise new battalions and men from all walks of life between the ages of 18-41 years volunteered to serve their Country. Shipyard workers were amongst those exempted from military service considered of prime importance at home, however at the age of 39 years 10 months on October 9th 1915, Edward Duncan left his employment at the shipyards as a holder upper and enlisted at Sunderland from where, at his own request, he was sent to Wensley, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, the following day to join the 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 435.

The 20th Battalion D.L.I. was newly formed at Sunderland on July 10th 1915 by the Mayor of the city. After initial training near home they had moved to the village of Wensley in August. Soon after Private Duncan’s arrival the battalion was transferred to Barnard Castle until moving to Aldershot in January 1916 where it joined the 123rd Brigade, 41st Division. 

The battalion departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force, May 4th 1916 from Southampton arriving at Le Havre, France May 5th. The Division concentrated between Hazelbrouck and Bailleul and entered the front line trenches for their first experience of warfare on May 29th at Armentieres. They spent the next few months in and out of the front line trenches in Belgium before moving south in September 1916 with the 41st Division to join the fighting on the Somme at Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd with the loss of over 100 men.

In October 1916 they were in reserve and after briefly returning to the Somme during the attack at Gueudecourt, orders came that they return to Belgium where the battalion spent the entire winter digging and repairing trenches and patrolling No-Man’s- Land. Private Duncan was taken by the 140th Field Ambulance for treatment on December 20th 1916 suffering from Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (fever) but returned to duty in the field, December 27th. 

By January 1917 Private Duncan was one of circa 450 men remaining of the original battalion which had arrived at the front in 1915. January 25th 1917 Private Duncan was given 5 days Field Punishment No.1, both severe and humiliating. Although his record does not specify the reason for this the most common was drunkenness, but also included desertion, cowardice or abandoning one’s post. The punishment entailed labour duties and also being shackled, hand and foot, to a post or a wheel for two hours a day, this was nicknamed, “crucifixion,” by the soldiers.

Private 20/435 Edward Duncan Durham Light Infantry returned to duty in the field, January 30th 1917 and was killed in action, February 24th 1917, during day to day trench warfare. He was interred at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium grave I. C. 2. He was 41 years of age and single.

His mother Elizabeth Duncan received all monies due to her late son from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal and July 6th 1917 person effects consisting of; a medallion, English and French book, coin, sent to her home address of 2, St. Mark’s Street, Sunderland.

In 1919 widow Elizabeth Duncan (83) was living at 9, Greystoke Avenue, Sandyford, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne the home of her daughter Margaret and son-in-law Robert Hatley Cook and family.

Elizabeth Duncan died in the district of Sunderland in 1924 aged 88 years. Her late husband was mentioned twice in Edward’s war record, once in connection to the disposal of his late son’s plaque and scroll and secondly, May 23rd 1919, where he is listed as, “dead,” on the statement of living relatives for Private Duncan. Although no death entry has been found, it would seem William Alexander Duncan died between 1917 and 1919.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Edward Duncan is remembered at Jesmond on J1.42 and J1.52, at Sunderland in S140.048, part 2, page 38, in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 35 and in the Battalion History page 48.