Andrew Common

Sir (Lawrence) Andrew Common, DSO, DL (31 March 1899 – 6 April 1953) was a British shipping director.[1][2][3][4]

Common was born in Bishopwearmouth, County Durham, the son of Francis James Common (1847–1903), an iron merchant from Darlington, and his wife, Annie Elizabeth (née Walford) of Banbury, Oxfordshire.[5] His aunt, Elizabeth Common, was the wife of the Nonconformist divine, Joseph Parker.

In 1911, he became a second lieutenant in the 3rd Northumbrian (County of Durham) Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 1917 for his services during World War I.[6][7]

In 1944, Common was appointed a knight bachelor by George VI for his work with the Ministry of War Transport during World War II and knighted at Buckingham Palace in 1945.[8][9] He was also appointed a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in 1848, for his services to her country during the war.[10]

In 1952, Common was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of County Durham and High Sheriff of that county in 1953, having previously been nominated in 1950 and 1952.[11][12][13][14]

In 1923, Common had married Bessie Reid Pollock (1895–1959), a daughter of Gilbert Reid Pollock (1865-?), an iron engineer from Neilston, Renfrewshire, and his wife, Annie (née Blackwell) of Hyde, Cheshire.[15][16][17][18] They had two children, Elizabeth A. (born 1926) and Gilbert A. (born 1930).[19][20]

Common died in 1953 and was buried in Edmundbyers, County Durham, near to his home, Hunter House on the banks of Derwent Reservoir. His wife was later interred with him upon her death in 1959.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ England & Wales Births Index 1899, June quarter, "Common, Laurence Andrew", Sunderland, volume 10, page 631
  2. ^ a b England & Wales Deaths Index 1953, June quarter, "Common, Lawrence A.", Northumberland West, volume 1b, page 394
  3. ^ a b Edmundbyers Monumental Inscriptions
  4. ^ National Portrait Gallery
  5. ^ 1891 England Census, Class RG12, Piece 4134, Folio 68, Page 31
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 28585. p. 1451. 27 February 1912.
  7. ^ London Gazette: no. 30111. p. 1. 1 June 1917.
  8. ^ London Gazette: no. 36866. p. 5469. 29 December 1944.
  9. ^ London Gazette: no. 36943. p. 943. 16 February 1945.
  10. ^ London Gazette: no. 38192. p. 741. 30 January 1948.
  11. ^ London Gazette: no. 39069. p. 5739. 17 November 1950.
  12. ^ London Gazette: no. 39634. p. 4589. 29 September 1952.
  13. ^ London Gazette: no. 39700. p. 6137. 21 November 1952.
  14. ^ London Gazette: no. 39798. p. 1442. 13 March 1953.
  15. ^ England & Wales Marriages Index 1923, June quarter, Sunderland, volume 10a, page 1352
  16. ^ England & Wales Births Index 1895, December quarter, "Pollock, Bessie Reid", Stockport, volume 8a, page 10
  17. ^ England & Wales Deaths Index 1959, September quarter, "Common, Bessie R.", Durham West, volume 1a, page 540
  18. ^ International Genealogical Index, Batch C115721, Dates 1855-1875, Source Call No. 6035516 Register
  19. ^ England & Wales Births Index 1926, March quarter, Sunderland, volume 10a, page 1202
  20. ^ England & Wales Births Index 1930, June quarter, Sunderland, volume 10a, page 1102
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Philip Pease		 High Sheriff of Durham
1953		 Succeeded by
Thomas Summerson