Villers-Falcon Communal Cemetery
Photo: Geordie at War Project
In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone which reads:
In
loving memory of
Hannah
beloved wife of
Christopher Thirlwell
who died 18th July 1917
aged 61 years.
Also the above
Christopher Thirlwell
who died 29th Augt. 1943
aged 90 years.
Also William
their beloved son
killed in action 20th Aug. 1917
aged 23 years.
Also
Thomas, Ann & Rosamond
died in infancy
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William McNeils Thirlwell was born at Gateshead, County Durham, one of 7 children of whom only 4 survived he was the 2nd born of 3 sons and had and elder sister. His father Christopher Thirlwell married April 6th 1882 to Hannah McNeils (listed as McNall), both were born at Gateshead in 1854 and 1856 respectively. They settled at 19, Bensham Terrace an accommodation they shared with Thomas and Helen Moodie, neither couple had any children. Christopher was employed as a locomotive foreman, ten years later they had moved to 5, Ross Terrace where he supported his wife and son, Christopher Drummond Thirlwell, employed as a locomotive stoker. By 1901 the family was complete with the arrival of Martha in 1892, William in 1894 and Albert in 1898 and they were now living at 36, Third Street, Christopher had progressed from engine stoker to engine driver. In 1911 they were at 72, Redheugh Road, Gateshead, Christopher Snr had reverted back to working as a stoker and was employed by the Redheugh Gas Works, Christopher Jnr (22) as a clerk for a brewers, William (17) was unoccupied, Albert (13) was a scholar and sister Martha (19) assisted her mother with home duties.
William McNeils Thirlwell was called up for service November 23rd 1915 and initially assigned to the Army Reserve as Private 39668 until he was mobilised February 20th 1917 and transferred to the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry that once mobilised in 1914 had been allocated for the Tyne Defences at Wallsend and along the south bank of the Tyne. Private Thirlwell joined them at Seaham Harbour where they had been sent in September 1915. Although they were part of the North East Coastal Defences the role of the 4th Battalion was also to train men for service overseas. Private Thirlwell was transferred to active duty and departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force, May 17th 1917 via Folkestone and once arrived in France transferred to the 22nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Acting Corporal then transferred to the 19th Battalion, 106th Brigade, 35th Division joining them in the field on the battlefields of the Somme in the trenches near Longueval, June 23rd 1917. As a Bantam Battalion consisting of men below average height they did little fighting but were assigned to dig new communication and reserve trenches however they were still subjected to shell fire which caused casualties on a daily basis. Whilst on active duty he received news of his mother’s passing on July 18th 1917 aged 61 years.
Private 39668 William McNeils Thirlwell Durham Light Infantry was killed action August 20th 1918 and interred at Villers-Falcon Communal Cemetery, Somme, France, grave F. 60. He was 23 years old and single.
His father commissioned at a cost of 15 shillings 2 pence an addition inscription to be added to his military headstone it reads, “Dear Son Of C. And Late H. Thirlwell Gateshead His Duty Nobly Done,” and received all monies due to his son along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 72, Redheugh Road Gateshead, County Durham.
Christopher Thirlwell died at Gateshead in 1943 aged 90 years of age.
It should be noted that marriage records list Hannah’s surname as McNall however earlier record list the family as McNeils.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Thirlwell is remembered at Redheugh on R43.01and at Bensham on B134.02
He is also remembered in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 220
