Yarm 1914

Yarm1914 research believe that Donald was born in Whitley Bay in 1899 second son of Christopher and Eleanor Jane Little. Christopher, a manager of an insurance office had married Eleanor Jane Richardson the previous year in Darlington. Three other children were born, Christopher Stevenson (known as Stephen) in 1984, Dora Harvey in 1898 and Alice Mary in 1900. In 1901 the family lived with Christopher's neice Annie Kay a school governess and Lizzie Green a servant. By 1911 the family had moved south and Christopher was an Insurance Broker living in Linthorpe and Stephen and Donald were at Boarding School in Great Ayton.

Donald wa a clerk before signing up on 23 October 1916 one month after his brother Stephen had been killed in action. He records his parents address as 41 The Avenue in Linthorpe. He was sent to France on 15 February 1917. A bomb exploded and injured his left hand and he was brought back to England. On 30 July 1917 he was admitted into Sunderland War Hospital and discharged on 8 February 1918. He is recorded as being absent between 28 March and 2 April when he was sent back to France. He came down with dysentery on 5 May 1918 and on 24 May was adnitted to Addington Park War Hospital in Croydon. Test results showed that by 6 June he was clear but he did have a yeast infection in both eyes. On 19 July he was discharged to 'C division' dysentary hospital, Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire where microbial tests proved negative. He was discharged to furlough on 23 August 1918. This is a period of agreed absence when a soldier could return home. He was back in France on 11 October but was admitted to Belmont Road Auxillary Hospital in Liverpool on 8 November 1918 with another bout of dysentery. Tests were carried out on 13 November, 3 December and 6 January 1919 and returned negative results. He was discharged later that month and awarded a pension of 5/6 for 26 weeks on 26 May 1919.

He is recorded on the Yarm Grammar School memorial located in Conyers school as having served in His Majesty's Forces.

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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.