In Sunderland (Southwick) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:-
188848 Gunner
A. Williamson
Royal Garrison Artillery
26th July 1919 Age 39
Thy will be done
The son of Thomas and Mary Williamson and the husband of Margaret Williamson, of 26, Elizabeth Street, Castletown, Sunderland.
Derek Haynes has provided the following:-
Arthur Williamson was born June Q 1879 in Sherburn, Co. Durham the youngest child of Thomas and Mary Williamson (nee Fenwick). Thomas Williamson was a widower when he married Mary Fenwick in the September Q 1871 in Durham, prior to marrying Thomas; Mary had two illegitimate children George and Robert.
By the time of the 1881 census Arthur is residing with his parents and siblings at Broomside in the parish of St. Giles in Co. Durham. In 1891 they are residing in the Square in the parish of North Bedburn in Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. Including Arthur and his parents there were six other family members sharing four rooms.
Arthur’s father Thomas aged approximately 65 years died in the September Q 1896 in the registration district of Auckland. For three years his mother Mary was a widow, then in the December Q 1899 in Auckland she married Thomas Hope a coal miner from Sunderland. Thomas was also widowed his wife Mary Ann having died in the December Q 1898 in Sunderland.
By the 1901 census Arthur’s age is given as 21 and he has followed his father and stepfather into the coal mining industry, where he was working as a screener. The family was now residing at 7 Lord Street in the parish of Tunstall Village, which was part of Sunderland District.
In the March Q 1909 in the registration district of Houghton, Arthur married Margaret Fenwick.
In 1911 the family are living in two rooms at Garden Terrace, Newbottle, Fence Houses in the county of Durham, Arthur is still employed in the coal mining industry as a Coal Hewer. The 1911 census shows that they have had a child who has sadly died prior to the time the census was taken.
Arthur and Margaret went on to have a further six children:
Twins Catherine F. and Louisa were born 29th May 1911, but not registered till the September Q of the same year in Houghton; sadly Louisa was to die in the same quarter;
Arthur September Q 1912 Houghton;
Mary March Q 1915 Houghton;
Louisa June Q 1916 Gateshead;
William Arthur’s Army records give William’s date of birth as 13th May 1918 born in Sunderland.
I have been unable to determine the name of the child who died prior to the 1911 census.
Arthur enlisted on the 24th June 1916 he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner and was given the regimental number 188848.
Army records which survive show that Arthur was of good character. On the 22nd March 1919 he was discharged from the Army as being no longer physically fit for war service. He had been diagnosed as having anaemia which was caused by his war service. When discharged Arthur received a weekly war pension of £1 7s 6d from the 23rd March 1919 which was to be reviewed after 26 weeks. He was also in receipt of £1 4s 2d which were allowances for his five children, this was from the 7th April 1919.
On the 26th July 1919 Arthur aged 40 years died at the family home 26 Elizabeth Street, Castletown, he was laid to rest the 30th July 1919 in Section P Grave no. 5801 of Southwick Cemetery.
A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place.
Not long after having to come to terms with the death of her husband, tragedy would strike again with the loss of two of their children. Louisa died 25th March 1920 aged 4 years and was buried 29th March 1920 in Southwick Cemetery, then sadly only eight days later William died on the 2nd April 1920 and was buried 6th April 1920 also in Southwick Cemetery.
I have been unable to find what happened to Arthur’s wife Margaret.
Arthur Williamson is remembered at Castletown on C124.04, at Southwick on S130.22, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 10 page 220 and in Peter Gibson’s book.
