Yarm 1914

Yarm1914 research believe that Robert Christopher died at home in baysdale Abbey near Battersby on 25 February 1919 as a result of injuries from WW1. He was born in 1878 in Worsall when his father Christopher was working as a farm labourer. Christopher from Embleton near Wynyard married Selina Wood from Coxhoe in 1875 and moved to Bilsdale where Sarah Ann was born in 1876. 2 years later they were at Worsall where Robert was born and then moved to Picton village in 1881. Selina died in 1882 and Christopher married Mary Wood from Bilsdale the following year. In 1891 they were living at West Brandon Farm where Christopher was a farm foreman. Mary had given birth to 5 children, Selina aged 7, Mary Elizabeth aged 5, Ann W aged 3, John W aged 2 and Barbara aged 1. By 1901 they had moved to Baysdale Abbey where Christopher was a farm manager and then a farm bailiff and Robert aged 23 was an agricultural labourer. The family had been joined by Sarah Wood, Christopher's mother in law. Selina married William Emerson Harrison from Beech House Farm Kildale in 1905 who bacame a farmer at Cold Moor Cote Farm at Chop Gate. Robert joined them to assist on the farm.His grave is in the churchyard of St Cuthberts Killdale. Private Etherington's grave is unique in that his family have chosen to place the Memorial Plaque (the "Dead Man's Penny" that was presented to a soldier's family) in front of the headstone.Robert is recorded on war memorials in Chop Gate, Bilsdale and Kildale and on the base of the lecturn in Christ Church Westerdale.

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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.