World War 1 commemoration

[liz]

Good morning

As part of the Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project I am researching a casualty William Hedley MILBURN who was born in Cramlington, Northumberland but was living at 9 Green Hill, Pontycymmer and working at Braich y Cymmer Drift when he joined the Mercantile Marine in July 1917.  He drowned when his ship was torpedoed on 20 August 1917.

I wonder if there is a memorial plaque to local miners who were killed in WW1 and if so where it is located.

Do you happen to know - or know of someone I could contact?  Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.  Ideally I would like a photograph for our database.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Liz

Elizabeth M Liddle

[gerald]

Hello Elizabeth,
I just caught your message. 3rd Engineer. William Hedley Milburn. S.S. Edernian. Mercantile Marine. Killed in action aged 34. remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. the s.S. Edernian was torpedoed on the 20/6/17. by a U-boat.
Born Cramlington, Newcastle. Parents, John & Isabella. Enlisted in Cardiff. Worked in the Braich Y Cymmer Colliery, lived at 5 Green Hill, Pontycymmer. He left a widow Annie, and 5 children.
The Edernian was built in 1906 and was carrying steel when she was torpedoed by U-Boat U-10, Captained by Fritz Gregor. 20th August 1917, 6 miles off Southwold.U.K.
There is no memorial to the WW1 fallen per se, there is a monument to the dead of all wars, but not inscribed with names. I do have a newspaper photograph of W. Milburn, it is very poor but you might like to see it? If you would send your Email address to me at [e-mail]. I will find and send it to you. I hope our information has been of help. G Jarvs

[liz]

Good afternoon Gerald

Thank you so much for this information and for the photograph which I received by email.
The entry for William on our database is almost complete but has not yet been published.  Keep and eye on our website northumbriaworldwarone.co.uk - shouldn't be too long before he makes an appearance!
Kind regards
Liz

[gerald]

If I find any other reference to William, I will pass it on. Glad we could help in this case. You are welcome to share it on our Facebook page when it is complete. P.S You should be able to pick out William's address on google street cam its still there?