Heslop’s Local Advertiser 13/10/1916 RoH
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 13/10/1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robinson Wallace born 1896 at Felling, Gateshead, was the only son of Robinson Jackson Wallace born 1966 at Monkton Village, Jarrow and his wife Margaret Jane born 1868 at Sunderland and with whom he also had 2 daughters Ada Annie (1889) and Margaret Alice (1892). His father was employed as a police constable and lived with his family along with the families of Superintendent Snowdon and Police Constable Steadman at the Police Station, Stanhope. Between 1892 and 1896 he moved his family to Whitehall Lane, Heworth, now employed as a police constable for Durham County Council. by 1911 both Ada (22) and Margaret (19) were employed by Felling Urban Council as elementary school teachers, Robinson (15) was still a scholar.
On the outbreak of war Robinson Wallace enlisted, as Private 320, 3rd Northumberland Cyclists’ Battalion, however he resigned from the ranks to take up a commission as 2nd Lieutenant 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The main body of men of the 8th Battalion departed for France, April 17th 1915, however, he did not join the regiment until April 14th 1916 when he turned 19 and could serve over-seas. The regiment was fighting on the Somme during 1916 attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division but did not see action in a major battle until September 18th-22nd at Flers-Courcelette, followed by Morval & Thiepval 25th-28th and Transloy Ridge and Ancre Heights, October 1st-18th October.
Wounded in action, exact date unknown, he was taken by the Field Ambulance to the 45th and 56th Casualty Clearing Station near Dernancourt. 2nd Lieutenant Robinson Wallace Durham Light Infantry died of wounds October 2nd 1916, his body interred at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, grave II. D. 26.
His father now a retired police constable living at 25, Church Street, South Hylton, County Durham received all monies due to him, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. After probate, November 18th 1916 he was assigned his sons effects in the sum of 154 pounds 11 shillings 5 pence.
His father also commissioned at a cost of 21 shillings 7 pence an additional subscription to be added to his gravestone, it reads. “Shall Never Be Forgotten By His Loving Father, Mother, Sisters, Brother-In-Law and Nephews.
Robinson Jackson Wallace died in the district of South Shields, aged 83 years, in 1949.
In Gods safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 13/10/1916 carries a Roll of Honour notice which reads:
“Second-Lieut. Robinson Wallace, D.L.I., aged 20 years, died on Oct. 2nd of wounds received in action. Son of Margaret J. and Robinson J. Wallace (late of High Heworth).”
In a separate piece, the following appears:
“Second Lieut. Robinson Wallace, whose name appears in our Roll of Honour, was the only son of Police Constable R.J. Wallace, late of High Heworth. The deceased officer was 20 years of age, and educated at Jarrow Secondary School, whence he proceeded to Bede College, Durham. He enlisted as a private in the Northumberland Cyclists’ Battalion, afterwards gaining a commission, and was transferred to the D.L.I. proceeding to France on April 14th, 1916.”
He is remembered at Durham on D47.017 D47.126 and D47.127a and at Heworth on H92.03
