Alexander Middleton (1881-1917)
From Ryhope, served with 11th & 18th Battalions DLI, killed in action at Arras
Alexander Middleton, the son of James and Susan Middleton, was born in Well, Bedale, Yorkshire, in July 1881. He had two brothers and three sisters and the family moved to Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, some time before 1891. Alexander married twice, firstly in 1909 to Eleanor Parkinson and they had a daughter in 1910. Eleanor died in 1911 and in 1916 he married Floe Gurney and they had a son, Alexander Amos.
Alexander Middleton joined the 11th Battalion DLI on 3 December 1915 at Sunderland and on 20 February 1917 he landed in France. Private Middleton was transferred to the 18th (The Pals) Battalion DLI on 11 March 1917 and was killed at the Battle of Arras on 18 May 1917. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, in the Durham Cathedral Book of Remembrance, and on three memorials in Ryhope.
Civil Parish: Ryhope
Birth date: July 1881
Death date: 18-May-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Bleach Green, Hetton-le-Hole (1891 census)
Borough Lunatic Asylum, Ryhope, Sunderland (1901 census)
8 Brewer Terrace, Ryhope, Sunderland (1911 census)
8 Brewer Terrace, Ryhope, Sunderland (British Army WWI Service Records 1915)
Employment: Gardener (1901 census)
Gardener (1911 census)
Gardener (British Army WWI Service Records 1915)
Family: Father: James Middleton
Mother: Susan Middleton
Siblings: James, John, Christina, Jane & Susan Middleton
Wives: Eleanor Middleton nee Parkinson (d. 1911) & Floe Middleton (nee Gurney)
Children: Margaret & Alexander Amos Middleton
Military service:
Enlisted at Sunderland in the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on 3 December 1915
Transferred to 18th Battalion 11 March 1917
Regimental no.: 35860
Private.
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Bay 8
Durham Cathedral Book of Remembrance
Ryhope 1914-1918 Memorial Cross
St Paul’s Church, Ryhope 1914-1918 Plaque
St Ronan’s Social Club, Ryhope Photograph Album of members killed in WWI
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards