Walter George Craig (1891-1918)
From Gateshead. Died as a prisoner of war six days before the Armistice.
Walter Craig was born in Gateshead in 1891. In 1911, his father was working as a manager of a local chemical works, whilst Walter was an assistant in Gateshead Corporation’s weights and measure department.
Walter enlisted in the 19th (2nd Public Schools) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, probably in September or October 1914. After training, PS/8222 Private Craig landed in France with his battalion on 14 November 1915. This battalion, however, was disbanded in April 1916 and many of the men were then trained as officers. Walter Craig was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 26 September 1916 and attached to the 11th Battalion DLI.
On 23 March 1918 during the German offensive, Second Lieutenant Craig, then with ‘A’ Company 11 DLI, was taken prisoner. He was eventually transferred to an officers’ prisoner of war camp (Officierlager) at Graudenz by the River Vistula.
Weakened by the poor conditions and diet in this camp, he caught ‘Spanish flu’ and died on 5 November 1918. Walter Craig was first buried nearby but later the Commonwealth War Graves Commission moved his remains to Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery in Poland.
For further information:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/472577/craig,-walter-george/
North East War Memorials Project: http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11276
For further information about Spanish Flu, see the Imperial War Museum’s blog: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/spanish-flu-the-unseen-enemy
Civil Parish: Gateshead
Birth date: 1891
Death date: 5-Nov-1918
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 145, Beaufort Street, Gateshead.
Family: Parents: Walter & Isabella Craig, 124, Sunderland Road, Gateshead,
Widow; Nellie Craig, 145, Beaufort Street, Gateshead.
Military service:
Enlisted in 19th (2nd Public Schools) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, September/October 1914, as PS/8222 Private.
Commissioned as Second Lieutenant 26 September 1916 and attached to 11th Battalion DLI.
Taken prisoner 22 March 1918.
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Memorial(s): Buried: Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland.
Memorial Plaque, Gateshead Central Library.
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
