Andrew Common

Sir (Lawrence) Andrew Common, DSO, DL (31 March 1899 – 6 April 1853) was a British shipping director. [England & Wales Births Index 1899, June quarter, "Common, Laurence Andrew", Sunderland, volume 10, page 631] England & Wales Deaths Index 1953, June quarter, "Common, Lawrence A.", Northumberland West, volume 1b, page 394] [http://www.gravetext.co.uk/Edmundbyers/EDMUNDBYERS_MONUMENTAL_INSCRIPTIONS__sorted_by_surname_and_.pdf Edmundbyers Monumental Inscriptions] ] [ [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp86794 National Portrait Gallery] ]

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. [1891 England Census, Class RG12, Piece 4134, Folio 68, Page 31] 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. [LondonGazette |issue=28585 |date=27 February 1912 |startpage=1451] [LondonGazette |issue=30111 |date=1 June 1917 |startpage=1]

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. [LondonGazette |issue=36866 |date=29 December 1944 |startpage=5469] [LondonGazette |issue=36943 |date=16 February 1945 |startpage=943] 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. [LondonGazette |issue=38192 |date=30 January 1948 |startpage=741]

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. [LondonGazette |issue=39069 |date=17 November 1950 |startpage=5739] [LondonGazette |issue=39634 |date=29 September 1952 |startpage=4589] [LondonGazette |issue=39700 |date=21 November 1952 |startpage=6137] [LondonGazette |issue=39798 |date=13 March 1953 |startpage=1442]

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. [England & Wales Marriages Index 1923, June quarter, Sunderland, volume 10a, page 1352] [England & Wales Births Index 1895, December quarter, "Pollock, Bessie Reid", Stockport, volume 8a, page 10] [England & Wales Deaths Index 1959, September quarter, "Common, Bessie R.", Durham West, volume 1a, page 540] [International Genealogical Index, Batch C115721, Dates 1855-1875, Source Call No. 6035516 Register] They had two children, Elizabeth A. (born 1926) and Gilbert A. (born 1930). [England & Wales Births Index 1926, March quarter, Sunderland, volume 10a, page 1202] [England & Wales Births Index 1930, June quarter, Sunderland, volume 10a, page 1102]

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.England & Wales Deaths Index 1953, June quarter, "Common, Lawrence A.", Northumberland West, volume 1b, page 394] [http://www.gravetext.co.uk/Edmundbyers/EDMUNDBYERS_MONUMENTAL_INSCRIPTIONS__sorted_by_surname_and_.pdf Edmundbyers Monumental Inscriptions] ]

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