Henderson Price Jobson (1888-1916)
Grange Villa man served with Royal Army Medical Corps
Henderson Price Jobson was born in Chester-le-Street in 1888. His father, Robert, a miner, was born in Warkworth, Northumberland and his mother, Elizabeth was born in Fatfield.
In 1891, 3-year-old Henderson, his parents, 5-year-old brother, 9-month-old sister lived in Mowbray’s buildings, Chester-le-Street with two other families. All three families were dependent on mining for a living.
Robert Henderson, senior, later found work as an inn-keeper and in 1901 the family were living at Cross Lanes, East Rainton. At the time, Henderson, aged 13 years and his 15-year-old brother, Robert, both worked below ground at the pit. Their younger sister, Jane, had died, aged 9 years but they now had two younger brothers, James (8 years) and John (2 years) and a sister, Elizabeth (5 years).
By 1911, the family had moved again and at the time of the census were in the West Pelton area where father and sons were once more working at the colliery.
Henderson married Annie Maria Staines in 1909 and lived at Grange Villa. He was a Primitive Methodist lay preacher and Trustee of Grange Villa Sons of Temperance. Their first daughter, Elizabeth Eleanor Jobson, was born in 1910. A second daughter, Thirza, was born 29 August 1914, during the early weeks of the First World War.
Henderson enlisted at Gateshead and joined the Territorial force as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to 2/2nd Northumberland Field Ambulance (regimental no. 1961). After a few months training the 2/2nd Northumbrian Field Ambulance joined the 50th Northumbrian division and proceeded to France, via Southampton, in April 1915.
Private Jobson entered the Western European Theatre of War on 20 April 1915. The division was in Steenvoorde when the Germans attacked Ypres using poison gas for the first time (Wartime Memories Project) and in 1916 was engaged in the Battle of the Somme. During September and October the division was involved in operations east of Martinpuich, with attacks towards Eaucourt and Le Sars (Battle of the Somme, Roll of Honour).
Private Jobson was killed in action on 29 September 1916. He is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave at Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France.
His widow, Annie Marie, later received his personal effects of £9/1/9, and a war gratuity of £7. Private Jobson was entitled to the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star.
Annie Marie Jobson continued to live with her two daughters in the West Pelton area. The 1939 Register records them living at 44 Twizell Lane. Elizabeth worked as a shop assistant while Thirza was a clerk in the cashier’s office at the Co-op.
Elizabeth died in the Chester-le-Street area in 1998, aged 88 years and Thirza died in 1999, aged 85 yrs.
Civil Parish: Chester le Street
Birth date: 1888
Death date: 29-Sep-1916
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Mowbray’s Buildings, Chester-le-Street (1891census)
Cross Lanes, Rainton (1901 census)
26 Albert Street, Grange Villa (1911 census)
13 Front Street, Grange Villa (family address 1916)
Widow & daughters: 44 Twizell Lane (1939 Register)
Religion: Primitive Methodist
Organisation membership: Sons of Temperance
Employment: 1901 (aged 13 yrs) –coal miner, driver (below ground)
1911 coal miner, hewer
Family: Father: Robert Jobson , (b. Warkworth) (1860- )
Mother: Elizabeth (b. Fatfield) (1866-)
Brother: Robert William Jobson (1885-)
Sister: Jane (1890-1899)
Brother: James C Jobson (1893-)
Sister: Elizabeth Ursuline Jobson (1895-1988)
Brother: John W (1899-)
Wife: Annie Maria Staines (1888-1967)
Daughter: Elizabeth Eleanor (1910-1998)
Daughter: Thirza (1914-1999)
Military service:
Private Henderson Price Jobson Territorial Force no.556748
Enlisted RAC 2nd/2nd Northumberland Field Ambulance
Entered Theatre of War 20 April 1915 (British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Card 1914-1920)
Killed in Action 29 September 1916
Buried Flatiron Copse Cemetery, I.G. 46
Mametz, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France.
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
1915 Star
(UK WW1 Service Medal & Award Rolls)
Memorial(s): Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, France
Grange Villa Methodist Church (now closed), plaque
Grange Villa Sons of Temperance, roll of honour (now at Beamish Museum)
Saint Paul’s Church, West Pelton, plaque
Gender: Male
Contributed by Brenda Peppin and Tricia Bailey