In White House Cemetery, St. Jean-Les-Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 33269 Gunner Archibald Maddison serving with “B” Battery, 51st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, who died 16/12/1915.

The son of the late Robert and Margaret Ellen Maddison, of Fence Houses and the husband of Lucy H. Maddison, of 85, Station Avenue, Fence Houses, Co. Durham.

In Lumley Christ Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:

In Loving Memory
of
Margaret Ellen
The beloved wife of
Robert Maddison
who died at Lumley Sixth Pit Dec. 7th 1904
aged 52 years

Also Robert Maddison
Beloved husband of the above
who died Feb. 11th 1919
Aged 72 years

And Elizabeth Maddison
Mother of the above
Who died Jan. 13th 1872 aged 60 years

Also of Gr Archie Maddison
Beloved husband of Lucy Maddison
and son of the above who was killed at
Ypres December 16th 1915
Aged 33 years

He answered his country’s call.

William Kirby has submitted the following:-

Archibald was born in 1882 at Great Lumley, the son of Robert and Margaret Ellen Maddison.

In 1901 the family were living at Lumley Sixth pit. Father Robert was a Coal miner Deputy Overman. Archibald aged 16 was also working at the local coal mine.

He married Lucy Hellinor Tate in 1907 in the Chester le Street Registration District.

In 1911 Archibald, a Coal Miner Hewer and Lucy were living at 26 Britannia Terrace, Fence Houses. Their family consisted of Phyllis (2) and Joseph (6 months).Another child had died. There was also a boarder Mary Jane Hunter, aged 36 who was married but separated from her husband.

Archibald enlisted at Houghton le Spring and joined the Royal Field Artillery. He embarked for France 12th May 1915. He was killed in action 16th December 1915.

Recipient of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Lucy, living at 85 Station Avenue, Fence Houses added “He died for us” to his CWGC headstone.

Archibald Maddison is not remembered by name on a local War Memorial.

The Memorial in Fence Houses F47.01 bears no names.