World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
Claude Reginald Blyth
                                Forename(s):
                                Claude Reginald                            
                                Surname:
                                Blyth                            
                                Initial(s):
                                C R                            
                                Service Number:
                                CH/16620                            
                                Rank:
                                Private                            
                                Regiment:
                                Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving aboard SS Northumbria                            
                                Died:
                                09/01/1919                            
                                Aged:
                                23                            
                                Buried:
                                Embleton (Spitalford) Cemetery, Northumberland, A.C. 553                            
                                Service History:
                                SS Northumbria was a ship of 4,215 grt built in 1906 & owned by Westminster Steamship Co. Ltd. of London.
While on a voyage from Baltimore to Sunderland with a cargo of wheat she struck 2 mines in the North Sea one mile off Redcar at 03:00 on 9 January 1919.
The ship's lifeboats had not been fitted with rowlocks.  Most were swamped but one managed to get away.  After drifting for a week in stormy weather the sole surviving lifeboat washed up at Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland.  All but two of the 10 men who managed to get into the lifeboat were dead.  In all, 36 men lost their lives.                             
                                Background:
                                Son of Frederick George Blyth                            
                                Local Memorial:
                                Embleton, Spitalford Cemetery