CWGC Headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Charles Edward Usher was the youngest of his 8 siblings, 5 sons and 3 daughters. His father Joseph Thomas Usher was born at Scilly Banks, in 1848, his mother Susannah Cain in 1850, both in the district of Whitehaven, Cumberland. They were married in 1868 and settled at 5, Front Row, New Houses, Whitehaven, where Joseph Thomas was employed as a coal miner and daughter Sarah was born in 1870. 1872 was a year of both joy and sadness as their first son Francis was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/ Feb/Mar) but Sarah died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec), only 2 years old. Susannah gave birth to a further 2 children William, born August 26th 1873 and Thomas, 1876 before they left Cumberland and migrated to the north east. In 1881 they were living at Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in a property situated between the Bay Horse and Royal Oak Inns, birthplace of Elizabeth Jane, January 13th 1881. Joseph Thomas had found employment there and in search of work moved his family several times over the next 10 years. Daughter Susannah was born at Little Burn, County Durham, in 1888, Joseph Jnr at Wylam, Northumberland in 1889, before they settled at Walbottle, where he and his son Francis (15) had found work at Blucher Pit as a coal hewer and putter. Charles Edward was born at Walbottle in 1891, however the family had returned to County Durham by 1901 where they occupied a property at Belt’s Square, Blaydon Burn. His elder sons had left home, he supported his wife, daughters Elizabeth (20), Susannah (12), Joseph (11) and Charles Edward (10) and to increment the family income had taken in boarders, blacksmith, George Porter, his wife Agnes and 16-year old son Peter a mason’s labourer.
Susannah Usher nee Cain died in 1904 aged 53-years and Joseph Thomas aged 56-years in 1907, both registered at Castle Ward, Northumberland.
Charles Edward was married in 1911 to Dora Proud, born March 8th 1893, daughter of Henry and Isabella Proud of East Denton, Northumberland. She was living with her parents in 1911 at West Avenue, Westerhope, listed as married for under one year, but in error under surname Proud, the whereabouts of Charles Edward is unknown. Their son Leslie was born, March 22nd 1913.
Upon the declaration of war in August 1914 Charles Edward enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, as all regiments raised new battalions in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms. Between August 4th and the end of September 1914 half a million volunteers had come forward to form the New Armies and he was assigned as Private 12982 to the newly formed 9th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, which had formed at Newcastle, September 8th, part of Kitchener’s 2nd New Army. The battalion was assigned to the 52nd Brigade, 17th Division at Wareham, Dorset, fully trained Private Usher departed with his regiment to France, July 15th 1915. The division underwent a period of trench familiarisation before being moved to Belgium where it was sent into the front lines in the southern sector of the Ypres salient.
Private 12962 Charles Edward Usher Northumberland Fusiliers died, September 28th 1915, “in the field” cIrcumstances given as, “accidentally killed or through dugout falling in,” indicating what in today’s terms would be called, “friendly fire.” He was laid to rest within Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, 5 kilometres from Ypres, Belgium, a front line cemetery used as early as May 1915, grave I. L. 6. Private Usher was 24 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, Northumberland.
Dora was also awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and their son Leslie until he turned 16, March 22nd 1929, sadly he died April 7th 1916, only 3 years of age. Her pension was reduced thereafter to 13 shillings 9 pence until she remarried, December 3rd 1917 to coal miner Thomas William Graham. February 15th 1918, she received a gratuity of 35 pounds 7 shillings 2 pence, in full and final payment, equivalent to one year’s pay of her deceased husband.
A commission was received in the name of Dora Graham, 54, Larch Street, Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, for an additional inscription to be added to the military headstone of Private Usher at a cost of 8 shillings 2 pence, it reads, “In The Midst Of Life We Are In Death.”
Thomas William Graham was born, district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, December 8th 1894. He and Dora had several children, unfortunately the 1939 census has obliterated the names of some of them, those that are visible are, Margaret, July 24th 1917, Henry, November 9th 1923 and Dora Jane, May 12th 1928.
Thomas William Graham died in 1980 registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, aged 76-years, his death was preceded by that of his wife Dora Graham-Usher nee Proud, aged 49-years in 1943, Northumberland Central.
During WW1 several of Charles Edward’s brothers and nephews were eligible to serve. Only the records of his brother Thomas Usher and his nephew Joseph Usher have been found. Both his sisters were bereaved during 1917, his brother in law Lance Sergeant John Maughan Northumberland Fusiliers died, April 28th 1917, John Aitken during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1917, not war related
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Charles Edward Usher is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
