Yarm 1914

David was born in East Harsley in about 1873. His parents William and Sarah appear to have split up just after he was born. In 1880 Sarah was a boarder in Stanhope where David's brother Tom was born. David then aged 6 lived in Yarm High Street with his brother William aged 12 and father aged 49.By 1891 David and William were lodgers with the Metcalfe family in the High Street whilst their father lived on his own in Silver Street working as a labourer and their mother was a housekeeper in Eaglescliffe. On 29 March 1897 David married Annie Adams at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church in Yarm. Annie was born in Boulogne in France in 1870 whilst her parents William Parker and Sarah Ann Adams both from Kent lived there. They returned to England and set up a confectionary in the High Street in Yarm. In 1901 David was working as a nurseryman whilst living in Smiths Terrace with Annie, Hilda 3 and Maurice 1. In 1911 the family had expanded to include Harold aged - dob 3 July 1901, Doris - dob 21 April 1903, David - dob 25 December 1904, Arthur - dob 15 December 1909 and newly born William - dob 2 December 1910. In 1916 when David signed up on 7 June, Hilda and Maurice had moved out and the remaining family were living in Bridge Street. He described his age as 39 years and 9 months which is 4 years less than census records indicate. He was scheduled to join the Yorkshire Regiment but ended up with the DLI.
He left for France on 8 July 1916 and returned to be demobed from Ripon on 8 February 1919 with a fitness category B2 - "able to walk 5 miles, see and hear for ordinary purposes".

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Yarm 1914 Research ________________

The Yarm 1914 Commemoration Group is carrying out research on the soldiers listed. We are finding where they lived in Yarm and will represent the findings in a wall of poppies presentation. More details will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and this web site. If you have any information please contact us. Left click on the picture below.