43262 Private Robert Vinton was a patient at Beechland House, Newick in 1917.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

 

43262 Pte. R. Vinton

10th West Yorks

Wounded at Ypres Oct 12th 1917

 

He shares this page with Company Sergeant Major John A C Wilson of the Royal Garrison Artillery, 43009 Private Herbert Richard Barnes of the 13th Essex Regiment and Sergeant James Stewart of the 84th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

 

Robert Vinton was born at Gateshead, County Durham in June or July 1890, his birth registered at Gateshead in the September quarter of that year.  He appears on the 1891 census living at 10 Easton Street, Gateshead with his family.  The household comprised William Vinton (head, married, aged 39, a railway plate labourer), his wife Dorothy Vinton (aged 37) and their six children: Margaret Vinton (aged 15), William Vinton (aged 13, an errand boy), Samuel Vinton (aged ten), John Vinton (aged eight), Alice Ann Vinton (aged four) and Robert (aged nine months).  The children’s mother had been born in Newcastle but they and their father were all Gateshead born.

 

By the time the 1901 census was taken, the family had moved a few doors away to 5 Easton Street.  Additions to the family noted on the census are Sarah Vinton (aged eight) and Dorothy Vinton (aged five). Margaret and William do not appear on this census return and had presumably left home already.

 

Robert enlisted with the 10th West Yorkshire Regiment on 11th December 1915 (probably under The Derby Scheme).  He was wounded at Ypres on the 12th October 1917 in what would later be designated the First Battle of Passchendaele, and was discharged from the army on 6th September 1918 as no longer physically fit for war service.  His older brother Samuel Vinton served with the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment (number 45928) and died at home in Gateshead on 24th July 1917, presumably as a result of wounds received in action.  He was married to Rose Anna Vinton of 5 Chandlass Street, Gateshead and is buried in Gateshead East Cemetery (ref 9.1921). 

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

·       1891 Census of England and Wales

·       1901 Census of England and Wales

·       The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Debt of Honour Register

·       The National Archives: Medal Card Index

·      The National Archives: British War and Victroty Medal Roll: O/2/104 B21: Page 2521: WO 329/907

·       The National Archives: Silver War Badge Roll: O/2234/2: WO 329/3142