Photo: B. Chandler

In Bamburgh (St.Aidan’s) Churchyard is a headstone which reads:

In memory of
Agnes Stuart Dove
Wife of James Laing, who died at Burton
25th April 1880 aged ?84 years.
Also of
James Laing
For 43 years farmer of Burton
Who died there
7th April 1902, aged 64 years
Also of
James Stuart Laing
Second son of the above
Who died at Burton 2nd April 1903
Aged 28 years
Also of
Alexander Torrance Laing, . . . . . .
Late curate of S . . . . ., Middlesex
Youngest son of James
And his wife Jacobina . . . . .
Who died at Rouen of wounds received
On the Somme whilst serving as
Lieutenant in the 13th Bt. Northd Fusiliers
24 July 1916
Aged 27 years
Also of the above
Jacobina C. Torrance Laing
Who died aged 85
On Dec. 5th 1935 at Oxted, Surrey
Where she was buried.

Captain Laing went to Corpus Christie College, Cambridge, and Matriculated in 1907.

Alexander Torrance Laing is remembered in Bamburgh on B3.01, B3.02, B3.04, B3.05 and B3.11, in Newcastle on NUT098, in the Battalion History page 5 and in the Alnwick Gazette Almanack page 51.

His name is also recorded in a Roll of Honour to bellringers in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Durham & Newcastle Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers
Ringing to Remember
The CWGC entry for Captain Laing