Ralph Maddison Robson was born and lived in Gateshead with his family, before moving and working at Easington Colliery with his father and older brother George. Although being a miner he was "exempt" he volunteered in 1914 and joined the Wearside battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, where he saw active duty in the Battle of the Somme. He was reported "missing in action" on 30th September 1916 during the Battle of Fleurs - his body never being found. He is commemorated at the Thiepval memorial. Gone but not forgotten 

Philip Johnson