On the Loos Memorial, France is the name of 17624 Lance Corporal Andrew Robertson Rankine serving with the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 27/09/1915.

Andrew was born on the 26th October 1893 in North Shields, the son of a Marine Engineer, David Kennedy Rankine and his wife, Margaret (nee Robertson). Both parents were Scots, his father born in Glasgow and his mother in Buckhaven, Fife.

David Rankine and Margaret Robertson were married in 1888 and lived in Tynemouth, and Andrew was educated for a while at the Tynemouth Priory Secondary School.

Andrew is recorded in the 1901 census as residing at 21 Albury Park Road, Tynemouth, “Robertson Rankine” living with his mother’s brother and wife. His mother and sister had joined his father, who was Chief Engineer on board the SS Asiatic Prince in London.

By 1908, they moved to 4 Argyle Street, Tynemouth.

During the War, Andrew’s parents moved to 25 Rosebery Avenue, South Shields.

He went at the age of 14, on the 1st June 1908 (Westoe) to Westoe Secondary School. He stayed just over 6 months, leaving on the 23rd December 1908 to be an apprentice ironmonger.

Andrew enlisted at Bishop Auckland and arrived at France 9th September 1915. He served with the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and was killed at Hill 70, near Loos, about 15 miles south-west of Lille in France.

Although his surname was Rankine, it is recorded on the Roll of Honour, and in the military records, as Rankin.

Source: Shields Daily News 11/101915 : Deaths. RANKINE. Killed in action at Hill 70, near Loos on the 26th September, 1915, aged 21 years. Lance Corporal A. R. (Robin) Rankine, 13th Northumberland Fusiliers, dearly beloved elder son of Mr and Mrs D. K Rankine of 25 Rosebery Avenue, South Shields.

Andrew Robertson Rankine is remembered at Harton on H104.03, and in Tynemouth on T36.01