Douchy Farm Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George (W). Webb was born about 1888 in Darlington, one of eight children, 4 boys and 4 girls, born to George Webb (1854) of Hampstead, Essex and Sarah Jane Hutchinson born 1855 a native of Darlington. His parents were married in Newcastle upon Tyne, March 1877, setting up home in the Darlington area where his father was employed as a labourer at the ironworks. George junior’s family remained in Darlington and his father died there in 1910, he however had moved to the Chilton area where he married Mary Primrose Rutherford in Sedgefield, December of that same year. The newly married couple lived in with Mary’s family at 3 West Chilton and George worked above ground as a colliery labourer. Mary gave birth to a daughter Grace Mary on December 17th 1911 and a son, George Albert on August 7th 1913.
George (W). Webb enlisted September 11th 1914 and was assigned to the Royal Field Artillery as Gunner 36211 rising through the ranks to Corporal. He was attached to the 38th R. F. A. Ammunition Column which served with the 38th (Welsh) Division as of December 1914. They proceeded to France late November early December 1915 and served on the Somme sustaining heavy casualties which put them out of action for more than 12 months. In 1917 they were back at the front during the Third Battle of Ypres.
October 19th 1917 Corporal George (W). Webb was killed in action. His body was temporarily buried on the battlefield and marked with a cross bearing his name, regiment and number. After Armistice, Dochy Farm New British Cemetery was created 7 kilometres outside of Ypres, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. His body was exhumed and brought into Dochy Farm where it was finally laid to rest, grave V. F. 7. Corporal 36211 George (W). Webb, Royal Field Artillery, was 29 years old.
His widow Mary living at 7 Backhouse Street Darlington received a pension for herself and her two children along with his awards of the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Mary married Royal Engineer soldier Alfred Simpson and moved to 18 Eden Street Middridge. George’s mother died before him in March 1917, his son George Albert married Sarah E. D. Clayton, March 1948 in Darlington. George Albert died June 15th 2000, his wife Sarah, May 1st 2011.
(2016 - The C.W.G.C. have the grave reference for this soldier as V F 7, having visited Douchy Farm Cemetery last week I found that there is no row F. George (W.) Webb is interred grave V. E. 7.)
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Webb is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04, C107.08, C107.09 and C107.12 at Middridge on M51.01 and at Darlington D40.034 and D40.067
