Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

John Craigs was born January 29th 1895 in Craghead, County Durham. He was one of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, born to Stephen Craigs 1868 Half Way House, County Durham and Margaret Ann Clarke a native of Coxhoe, County Durham. They were married the last quarter of 1890 in the district of Lanchester. Stephen worked at the colliery as a winding engineman.

Their first home was at 7 Thomas Street Craghead,

As the family grew they moved to 35, Railway Street where they took in two colliery workers as boarders. The family remained at this address and in 1911 at the age of 17 years John was working along with his father and brothers at the local colliery as a bank boy, pit top.

He enlisted at the outbreak of the Great War in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Unfortunately his war record no longer exists, one of about 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2. John Craigs served his country and survived the conflict.

Two of his brothers Stephen and Joseph also served.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Wendy Forbes has submitted the following:
I am a direct descendant of the actual Craigs family line. My great grandfather was Charles Craigs, as you said he had four sons and a daughter. My grandad was John Craigs but he changed that to Jack in the family records which I searched while working for Gateshead Council. I know he was gassed in the trenches during WW1. He returned home in 1919 but unfortunately he died in 1942 from the damage caused to his lungs. My dad Basil Craigs was only 10 when he died but his mother Mable Ellen  Rose supported him very closely in the house he grew up in. Unfortunately she died of breast cancer when my sister was only a year old.

My husband and I are leaving to go to France at the end of this week. I am going to take flowers to Cement House Cemetery as a tribute to Joseph who died so young. I know he did a lie about his actual age when he joined up.

John Craigs is remembered at Craghead on C120.02