Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Tobin was the eldest of all his siblings, one of 4 sons and 8 sisters. His father Thomas Tobin born 1845, an Irish immigrant from Queens County, was living at Church Street, Crook, County Durham, as a lodger in 1871, working as a coal miner. He married in 1877 in the district of Lanchester to Annie Agnew native of Newcastle upon Tyne, born 1858. They settled at Crook where James was born October 26th 1878, Sarah Ann 1880, Susannah 1881, Hugh Thomas 1884 known as Thomas Jnr, John 1886, Margaret 1888, Mary 1890, Ellen 1892, Edith 1894, Edward 1896 and Winifred 1898.
Between 1898 and 1901 they had moved from Crook to 37, Office Street, Cornsay Colliery, where Thomas and his sons James (22), Thomas Jnr (17) and John (15) were all employed as coal miners. Daughter Florence was born at Cornsay in 1903 at 22, Post Office Terrace where they were still living in 1911, Edward (15) was employed underground at the pit, helping up. Thomas Tobin Snr died, district of Lanchester, in 1912, listed in error as having been born in 1841.
James was married at 1902 to Elizabeth Ann Ryan born March 13th 1883 at 66, Liddle Street, Cornsay Colliery. By 1911 they were living at 72, Hedley Hill, near Cornsay with their son James (3). His wife had also given birth to 2 daughters who died in infancy, Florence May 1903-1903 and Mary Agnes 1905-1906. They went on to have a further 2 children, Lilian May born December 11th 1911 and Dorothy Evelyn, known as Dolly born October 21st 1913, some records give the 24th or 26th.
On the outbreak of war James enlisted at Durham and was examined November 18th 1914. Described as 34 years 1 month of age, 5 feet 8 inches, 158 pounds, found to be fit, he was assigned as Private 16433 Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment. Posted to the 3rd Battalion he was stationed at West Hartlepool, December 1st 1915 until June 22nd 1915, when as part of the British Expeditionary Force he departed with his regiment to France, June 23rd arriving the following day, battalion unknown. By January 1916 not only had he risen to the rank of Corporal but had also been transferred to the 184th Tunnelling Coy Royal Engineers, formed in October 1915 in response to the fact that the Germans were mining to a planned system on the Western Front. Experienced miners were transferred to the Royal Engineers which made the job of tunnelling quicker and safer.
The 184th Tunnelling Coy was immediately moved to the Somme area for work at Maricourt. By spring 1916 they were at Vimy Ridge, an active area for much of the war, where they were joined by the 172nd, 175th, 176th, 182nd and 185th Tunnelling Companies. In the second half of 1916 after the Germans withdrew many miners to work on the Hindenburg Line and the coal faces in Germany, the British tunnellers remained in the area constructing strong defences. Before the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917, the 184th was already in the Arras area on Fish Avenue Tunnel and helped to construct emplacements for heavy mortars. Using the ancient quarries in the area they linked them with a system of tunnels 20 kilometres in length, able to give shelter to the troops but also as a means of moving troops in secrecy. The tunnel system could accommodate 24,000 troops and were equipped with running water, electric light, kitchens, latrines, a small power station and a medical centre.
Having left the Arras sector the 184th was moved to Nieuwpoort in Belgium in June 1917 then on to the Ypres-Brielen sector to prepare tank crossings of the Ypres canal for attacks on July 31st 1917, the beginning of the Battle of Passchendaele.
During the Spring Offensive and the Battle of Lys they were supported by the 171st, 173rd, 183rd, 255th, 258th and 3rd Australian Coy but were forced to move when the Germans broke through the line at Boeschepe. The units were then put on duties including digging and wiring trenches over a long distance from Reningeist to near St. Omer.
Corporal Tobin had been wounded in the head, date unknown and was wounded for a second time, November 1st 1918, a gunshot wound to the right thigh. Evacuated back through the lines to a hospital centre he was repatriated, receiving treatment at the Reading War Hospital from November 17th 1918 to January 15th 1919. He did not return to the war zone as the Armistice with Germany had come into being, November 11th 1918. Transferred to Class Z, James was free to return to his civilian occupation, however, under the obligation of returning to the colours should hostilities with Germany resume. He was officially discharged at Chatham in Kent, February 19th 1919. Class Z was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, officially ending WW1. He was the recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
James lost his two of his 3 younger brothers. John Tobin died in France in October 1918 and less than 5 weeks later Hugh Thomas at Lanchester, County Durham, having been discharged as no longer fit to serve.
James returned to his family and work as a miner until his retirement after 65 years of service, December 31st 1955. He was the holder of the Durham Miners Association long service diploma. Never during his long career was he ever involved in a serious accident.
James Tobin Jnr died in 1924 aged 15 years, James Tobin Snr, March 5th 1958 at Tow Law, County Durham in his 79th year, his death preceded that of his wife Elizabeth Ann Tobin nee Ryan by little over 2 months as she passed away, May 13th 1958 aged 75 years. At the time of their demise they were living at 27, Baring Street, Tow Law, County Durham.
Their daughter Lilian May married in the district of Lanchester in 1931 to Walter P. Carter, she died aged 59 years in 1971. Dorothy Evelyn married in 1935 to Ralph R. Gowland in Weardale, County Durham, she died in 1991 aged 77 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
