Story | Hugh, my Grandfather's Brother was born at Stone Cellars Farm Usworth in April 1878 He then lived in Cleadon before moving to Seaham where he married Great Aunt Eva and became a successful Builder and Contractor building many houses in Sunderland and Seaham area. He was enlisted on the 8/12/15 where he was placed in the Army Reserve until 27/1/17 when he was fianlly approved and posted to the Royal Engineers Rank Sapper Carpenter & joiner Superior until demobilsed on the 23/3/19 and returned to the reserve list. The delay in posting was most likely due to his age (39 on enlistment) and the fact he was married with children, the policy at the beginning of the war was to take young single people 1st as the war progressed then this rule was relaxed. Hugh and Eva had two Sons Cyril Horlock kirton who died in infancy and Cecil Hugh Kirton who died aged 25 in 1928. Aunt Eva died in 1947, and Uncle Hugh came to live with us in East Boldon in 1952 He lived with us until he took a stroke, went into a Nursing Home and died in Ryhope General Nov 10th 1960.
Further pages from his service record
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Source: J Kirton
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