In St. John’s Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

6543 Private
E Reay
Duke of Wellington’s Regt.,
10th January 1917.

In front of this is a family headstone which reads:

In loving memory of
Signaller Edward Reay, beloved son of
William and Catherine Reay,
who died at Bethnal Green Military Hospital, London
from wounds received in action, in France,
Jany. 9th 1917 aged 23 years.

Morpeth Herald 19/01/1917 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
REAY.- Died in Bethnal Green Military Hospital, January 10th, 1917, from wounds received in action in France, Signaller [sic] E. Reay, beloved son of William and Catherine Reay, of 91 Sycamore Street, Hirst. Interred on Sunday, January 14th, 1917, at Seaton Hirst, with full military honours.

Margaret Allison states that he lived at 91 Sycamore Street, Ashington, and was aged 23 when he died.

Edward Reay is remembered in Ashington on A17.01 (A17.27) and A17.43