Norham Churchyard Section F Row 61 – 8 – Purvis/Christison/Maxwell

Transcription

 In loving memory of George Purvis who died at Horncliffe March 29th 1933 aged 72 years.

Cpl.  Wm. Purvis M. M. and bar, 149th Coy. M. C.C. son of the above who fell in action June 26th 1917 aged 27 years interred in Croisilles, British Cemetery, France.

Also Euphemia Christison youngest daughter of the above who died June 7th 1938 aged 35 years.

Also Elizabeth Maxwell wife of the above George Purvis who died at Monkseaton September 9th 1945 aged 87 years

Military record

Corporal William Purvis, M.M. and Bar, 149th Coy. Machine Gun Corps ( Infantry ). He was killed in action in France on 26th June 1917, aged 27. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Purvis of Richmond Villa, Horncliffe and is buried in Croiselles British Cemetery, France. His first Military Medal was awarded for gallantly serving his machine gun under very heavy German fire. ( The " Berwickshire Advertiser " has his parents living at Kelso Cottage, Horncliffe ). He had originally enlisted in his local territorial Battalion the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers together with his three brothers but had been transferred into the M.G.C. He had won his first M.M. in the capture of High Wood on 15th September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme where he was described as acting with great gallantry. His Bar to the Medal was won near Arras in May 1917 where he held a trench against heavt German attacks whe all his comrades had become casualties. He had fallen before he could receive his award and so his mother was presented with it at Berwick Barracks.