In Burnmoor (St. Barnabas) Churchyard is the Commonwealth War Grave of :_

162541 Gunner
W.R. Romaines
Royal Garrison Artillery
16th February 1918 Age 27

Thou Hast Laid
Thine Armour Down
And Gained The Eternal Crown

The son of Thomas and Dorothy Romaines, of 44, Long Row, Burn Moor and the husband of Elizabeth Romaines, of 15, Morton Crescent, Fence Houses, Co. Durham.

William Kirby has submitted the following:-

William Richard was born 24th April 1890 at New Lambton, Burnmoor the only son of Thomas and Dorothy nee Cairns Romaines. In 1901 the family were living at Burnmoor. Thomas was a Coal Miner Hewer. In 1911 William was listed as aged 20 and a mason on the Lambton Estate.

He applied to join the police service in 1913. William was single, 23 years old and 6 feet in height. He was a coal miner. 13th September 1913 he was appointed to South Shields Borough Police.

William married Elizabeth Charlton in 1914.

He enlisted at South Shields in 1917 and joined the Royal Artillery.

William died at the Victoria Hospital Blackpool on the 16th February 1918.

Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Elizabeth never remarried and died in June 1970 aged 79 years.

William Richard Romaines is remembered at Burnmoor on B154.01 and at South Shields on S86.031