Rigger

Just now, Rigger said:

Hi Have had a quick check and find the following:

Note.  the Soldiers in the Bedlington Soldiers who died in WW1 are based on the Record of Enlistment document held at St Cuthbert's Church.  This is not a complete list of Bedlington Soldiers who died in WW1.

1. Robert Bestford, # 38597. died 1/12/1917.  he was with the Durham light Infantry. Military records show and address at 42, Snowball Terrace Gateshead.  His detailed war records are available.  Robert is remembered at the Memorial for the North East Railway at York.  Robert was a Station Porter before WW1. The Memorial Roll of Honour & Case at the 1914-1918 Library honours his name.

2. William Thomas Bestford, #1242, died 21st July 1916.  he was with the Royal Engineers 1st/2nd Northumbrian Field Coy.  his details are available on the CWGC site and easy to find. 

3. George Bestford survived the conflict but had wounds and shell shock. He is shown to be associated with 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, Oxford and Bucks. Regiment and possibly the the Tyneside Scottish (record in the Tyneside Scottish book (Stewart & Sheen).  In the Record of Enlistment he is shown to be living at Bedlington. Note the photo shows a possible Sergeant Tyneside Scottish.  George has links with Egypt and being promoted to an Officer.

4. Thomas Bestford it appears was a 2nd Lieutenant with the 41 Sanitary Section serving in India.  No further details available.   

Continued (finger trouble)

5. Adam Bestford shown to be living at 179 Whitby Road Whitley Bay.  No military records located (not to say he did not enlist)

6. Luke Bestford is shown living at Gateshead again no military records found (as above)

On 07/02/2022 at 15:52, Jo C said:

I  have just looked through this very interesting site created by Derek Johnstone.  My Grandpa Thomas Bestford, and 4 of his brothers fought in WW1, 2 of them lost their lives.  Thomas is standing at the back in this photograph. Unfortunately, they are not listed on this site.  Maybe this was because at the time of WW1 they were listed on the census as living at Snowball Terrace, Gateshead?  However, all 6 brothers were born and raised in Bedlington.  

Hi Have had a quick check and find the following:

Note.  the Soldiers in the Bedlington Soldiers who died in WW1 are based on the Record of Enlistment document held at St Cuthbert's Church.  This is not a complete list of Bedlington Soldiers who died in WW1.

1. Robert Bestford, # 38597. died 1/12/1917.  he was with the Durham light Infantry. Military records show and address at 42, Snowball Terrace Gateshead.  His detailed war records are available.  Robert is remembered at the Memorial for the North East Railway at York.  Robert was a Station Porter before WW1. The Memorial Roll of Honour & Case at the 1914-1918 Library honours his name.

2. William Thomas Bestford, #1242, died 21st July 1916.  he was with the Royal Engineers 1st/2nd Northumbrian Field Coy.  his details are available on the CWGC site and easy to find. 

3. George Bestford survived the conflict but had wounds and shell shock. He is shown to be associated with 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, Oxford and Bucks. Regiment and possibly the the Tyneside Scottish (record in the Tyneside Scottish book (Stewart & Sheen).  In the Record of Enlistment he is shown to be living at Bedlington. Note the photo shows a possible Sergeant Tyneside Scottish.  George has links with Egypt and being promoted to an Officer.

4. Thomas Bestford it appears was a 2nd Lieutenant with the 41 Sanitary Section serving in India.  No further details available.   

There is a History Society in Bedlington, that I know of.  A chap called David Cowans is the Chairman.  I no longer live in Bedlington but take a great interest from a distant.

4 minutes ago, lilbill15 said:

Hi Rigger, thank you very much for this. You prompted me to have a look at older maps of Bedlington, found High Ewart Hill and Low Ewart Hill either side of the Hartford road.        (?60’s), so now I know the right area. Thanks again, regards x

As a kid we used to stop off  there on the way to the woods and chuck a stone down the shaft and wait for the noise when it reached the bottom.  Many years later I worked at the same Dr Pit pit.

On 23/05/2021 at 15:03, lilbill15 said:

Hello, this week’s rummage has been watercourses- Green Letch-> North Sea and also tracing back Bothal Burn.... trying to avoid buying OS maps if possible. Trying to pinpoint Ewart Hill in relation to the Green Letch (obviously got nothing better to do 😶) x

have read previous posts about flooding Westlea and cemetery and Ewart hill opencast x

Was Ewart Hill not where the ventilation shaft was for the Doctor Pit on the road from Bedlington to Hartford Woods?

I have been helping the North East War Memorial Project providing research and stories of Soldiers who died in the Great War. The names I listed are the ones I can not positively identify. Unfortunately, we only have an initial to work with which adds to the difficulty.   I have tried all  the the usual sources.  I was aware of the Poppy Map which was a great initiative, but not sure if they have any detail behind the names.  I was hoping a family might recognise some of the names.  

A post about the Bedlington Memorial on the Front Street at Bedlington was posted on the Bygone Bedlington site recently.  The North East War Memorial Project (NEWMP) web site has compiled short stories of the soldiers listed on that Memorial however, several soldiers have not yet been identified, these are W Burns, G Crozier, R Hunter, E Martin, A Mitchison, R Peebles, G Peebles, W Sanderson and J Gilby (Gilroy). If anyone has information about these brave soldiers can you please make contact so the NEWMP can complete the stories for this Memorial.  Thanks for any help you can provide.

Thanks very much for providing this information, greatly appreciated 

This is new to  me.  My 2x great grandad was landlord at the Anvil Inn.   The spelling is Johnstone and his middle name was Bruce but he did not use that name.  I would be interested in any information from the inquest. thanks

What a great photo.  In 1901, my great great Grandfather William Johnstone, originally from Scotland,  was the 'Innkeeper' at the Anvil Arms.  In the Inn at this time were his second wife Jane Johnstone (nee Gibson), his son James Johnstone (Blacksmith), Elizabeth Gibson , age 29, and William Bruce Johnstone a butcher and then miner who died in 1917 in WW1.

How do I add a photo to the Dr Pit and Rows album? 

Thanks for the help.  Just for your info.  I am compiling a history of Shiney Row 1881 - 1939 that's why I have been asking for information about the row.  Hopefully will finish sometime this year!

I have been informed Shiney Row was built by the Bedlington Coal Company about 1870.  Have looked in the 1871 Census but can find no evidence people living there at that time.  Does anyone know when they were first occupied?  Also, can anyone advice where I can get a plan or drawing of one of the houses in Shiney Row which all had 3 bedrooms and a kitchen except number 49 which had 4 bedrooms and a kitchen.  Thanks, Any help appreciated.

Bedlington Juniors about 1964

2 hours ago, Canny lass said:

Ancestry. Very good . I've used it for years.

Also Ancestry, there is subscription, but is quite comprehensive.  I also used Familysearch which is free which can sometimes fill in the gaps.

On 08/08/2019 at 18:00, Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) said:

Has anyone any idea where Carrs Buildings were in Bedlington? I have just found entries in me grannies old family bible that shows both my mam, Nancy Henderson born 1920, and her brother Martin, born 1921, with Carr's Buildings next to their D.o.B.. The next 7 children in the family, born between 1923 & 1937, have Haig Road next to their D.o.B. As me granda worked at the Dr. Pit I would guess Carr's buildings were either on the Glebe Bank or Vulcan Place - Beach Grove area. I have searched the old maps; Googled the www and checked on the Bedlington Facebook and community groups but Carr's Buildings doesn't get a mention. The only mention of Carr's I can find is in the Bedlington Timeline document = 1854 William Carr begins Bedlington's first newsagents in January. It was situated on Front Street East - but no idea if this man was linked to Carr's Buildings.

@Rigger -  @Canny lass - have either of you two remember if you have found any entries for Carr's Buildings into your respective searches of the area?

The Record of Enlistement shows a Carr's Yard, Front Street with a family called Hinson living there ( Thomas Hinson,  died WW1)

 

@HIGH PIT WILMA - was there a Carr's Buildings behind Front Street East before you got to Hollymount?

Thanks again lots of names there from my past.

Thanks for your help.  Will give give it a try.  The names you mention associated with Bedlington CC I can just remember from the the distant past!  I remember working with a guy at Dr Pit called Bill Anderson, a Terrier breeder, he was a wicket keeper at Bedlington CC at one time with the nickname 'hands'.  I was never sure if it was a compliment!!

Cames across this medal which belonged to me father George Johnstone.  The medal is inscribed Bedlington CC 1936.  I knew my father played for West Seekburn 2nd XI who were League Champions in 1931 and have a photo of that team.  I was not aware my father played for Beblington CC.  Any 1936 photos out there?

Given this a few years ago by my aunt.

The only clue is on the back of photo which says - 3rd guy 2nd row is Topper McGlen  (does not say left to right!).  Also an address 23, Beech Terrace

Topper was born 1898 in Bedlington and was the son of Michael McGlen 1861 -1933

Anyone recognise any of the others?  Not sure what the occasion was.

So it looks like Bedlington MIssion.  Thanks to everyone for their help on this one.  I will now label the original photo with this infromation for future generations!!

I have looked closely again at the original photo.  No indication of photographer.  However with photo enlarged the two shield each contain what looks like 11 medals each (one for each player on a team?).  The groups of medals on the shields are different style but each has an eye on the top.  I think these are not shields but are a display boards to hold the medals.  Maybe the photo is to celebrate the winning of two events (e.g. cup and league) and these are the medals to be awarded to the players.  What do you think?

Thanks Alan

My aunt and my family are all from Bedlington and no connections with Ashington.  When I got the package of photos which included the team photo my aunt had written on the accompanying letter Bedlington Terriers football team for some reason. She could have been mistaken.  I will have another look at the original to see who the photographer was or other clues.  Cheers

Yes it was me.  I posted this on one of those sites sixtownships or Bedlington.