In Quarry Cemetery, Vermelles, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 1635 Trooper Matthew Middleton, serving with the Royal Horse Guards, (The Blues) who died 23/01/1916.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Matthew Middleton was the only child of unmarried mother, Margaret Ann Middleton. She was the daughter of Alexander Middleton born at Wallsend, Northumberland and his wife Ann born at Hebburn, County Durham, one of 8 children she was their only daughter.
Margaret Ann Middleton was born at Monkwearmouth in 1869 and living in 1881 at 45, Burdon Street, Ryhope Colliery, County Durham where her father was employed as a stonemason, her elder brothers, Matthew (28), John (26), Francis (23), William (20), Alexander Jnr (18) and Thomas (16) as coal miners. She was 13 years old and her youngest brother Joseph (5) remained at home with their mother, however, Joseph ten year later was also working at the colliery. Alexander Middleton died aged 57 years in 1897, his widow Ann in 1900, both registered in the district of Sunderland, County Durham.
Matthew Middleton was born at Ryhope Colliery, November 12th 1893 and named in remembrance of Margaret’s eldest brother Matthew, who had died, earlier that year. John Middleton, the eldest of his surviving siblings had taken over as head of the family. They were still living at 45, Burton Street, the men working as miners and all were single. Margaret Ann in the census of 1901 is listed in error as Martha, her son Matthew (8) although of school age is not listed as a scholar.1902 brought joy to the family as Thomas was married but also sadness with the loss of their brother Frank.
Alexander Middleton was a boarder at 75, Ryhope Street in 1911 whilst John Middleton (59), William (54) Margaret Ann (42) and her son Matthew (18) occupied 3 rooms at 56, Railway Street, Ryhope. His uncles John and William still worked at the colliery below ground, Matthew was a screener above ground, a job given to younger boys until they acquired more experience.
Matthew joined the police force prior to WW1, it was not uncommon that this could have been in conjunction with his work as a miner. When war was declared, August 4th 1914, he left his employment and enlisted at Sunderland, County Durham assigned as Trooper 1635 to the Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line also known as The Blues Royal Horse Guards. They fought dismounted as infantry, the first wave of men had departed October 7th 1914 landing at Zeebrugge, Belgium, part of the 7th Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, where it transferred to the 8th Cavalry Brigade of the same Division, November 21st 1914.
Trooper Middleton departed to join his regiment, October 8th 1915 and was killed in action, January 23rd 1916 whilst involved in the fighting at Fosse 8 and at the Hohenzollern Redoubt where the dismounted Cavalry occupied the sector 1915-1916.
Trooper 1635 Matthew Middleton Royal Horse Guards was interred at Quarry Cemetery, Vermelles, Pas de Calais, France, with many of his fallen comrades. The cemetery was severely damaged by shell fire in the coming years prior to the Armistice of November 11th 1918 destroying the original crosses marking the graves and giving the deceased name and military details.
Post-war ten remained unidentified and those not individually identified, bear an addition inscription, “Buried near this spot.” The latter applies to the grave of Trooper M. Middleton with also an addition inscription commissioned by an unspecified member of his family after the completion of works within the cemetery in 1920, which reads, “THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT.” At the time of his demise in 1917 he was 26 years of age and single.
His mother Margaret Ann Middleton received all monies due to her late son from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal , also a pension of 5 shillings, awarded, October 27th 1916, to be received weekly as of October 31st 1916, sent to her at 53, Turnstall Street, Ryhope, County Durham. The pension payment was suspended January 23rd 1917 as Margaret Ann Middleton had died, January 17th 1917, aged 48 years.
It should be noted De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour incorrectly states Trooper Middleton was born November 12th 1884. Birth records confirm his birth was registered during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1893.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Grainger emails:
On the 1st WW names there are two I managed to get on the memorial (D47.150) that were not recorded on the main war memorial (D47.174), their names are Matthew Middleton and Thomas Euen Nesham.
In relation to Middleton, he was killed in 1916 and I am unable to find out why he was omitted from the memorial, perhaps his family did not want his name on the memorial, we will never know.
Matthew Middleton is remembered at Durham on D47.150, at Ryhope on R52.01 and at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 11 page 235.
