Yarm 1914

Robert was born in Grange Mill, Darlington Road, Egglescliffe in 1888 to Robert aged 39, a miller and his wife Sarah Ann aged 36. The family moved to Yarm High Street where, in 1891 Robert lived with his parents, sister Emily, brother Samuel aunt Sarah Hannah Mayson and boarder John Clapman. Samuel is recorded in the 1891 census as being a miller's apprentice after leaving school. He could be the S Dunning recorded on the Yarm Grammar School ww1 board. His father would be wealthy enough as a mill owner to send his eldest son to school. By 1901 the family had moved to Lower Church Wynd where brother Herbert aged 21 had joined the family and sister Nora aged 6 had been born. By 1911 the family was living in a 10 roomed house in Balk, east of Thirsk where father Robert is described in the 1911 census as a farmer, Emily as a dairy worker, Robert as working on the farm and Nora as a dressmaker. Samuel had married Betsy Matthews in 1902 and was living with his mother in law and father in law in Beechwoord Road, Eaglescliffe. He was a machinist at Winstones Quarries. Herbert had married Elizabeth Snaith from Yarm in 1902 and was living with three children in Monk Park in Balk. He, like his father, was working as a farmer.

There is no record of Samuel aged 37 in 1914 having signed up, nor are there records of any medals awarded to him. Robert, however, signed up as a private in the 6th East Yorks and given the regimental number 36916. He then transferred to the 12th DLI and saw service in Italy. Three DLI batallions had been sent to support the Italian army after its defeat by a Austro-Hungarian and German force at Caporetto. Robert died on 25th May 1918, recording Robert and Sarah Ann of Leven Bridge Mill, Yarm as his next of kin.

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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.