Photo : Ian Patterson
Medal Index Card
Old Postcard Hamelin POW Camp
Photo : Ian Patterson POW's Interned in Holland
William has no named father on the birth certificate so it was registered as William Dagnan.
John and Annie were married on the 8th September 1892 at Blackhill.
John Toole was one of six children to Patrick Toole, [born 1831 died 10th January 1871], and Mary Kelly, [born 1834 died 1908], they were married on the 21st August 1855, the other children were Felix Toole, born 1856, Patrick Toole, born 1858, died 1934, Bridget Ann Toole, born 21st July 1861, John Toole, born 31st January 1864, died 12th October 1930, Alice Toole, born 31st May 1866, died 16th October 1867 and William Toole born 28th September 1868.
William was the eldest of 5 children, the other four were Mary Toole, born 1894, Patrick Toole, born 21st September 1895, [he enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry on the 21st October 1914 at Consett. He was described as 5 feet 7 and a quarter inches high, weight 124lbs, sallow complexion Grey Eyes and dark brown hair. He was given the service number 20938, with the rank of private. However, he was discharged from the Army on the 31st October 1914 serving just 10 days, under Kings Paragraph 392 (iii) Deemed "Not being likely to become an efficient soldier"], James Toole, 1899 and Annie Toole.
The photograph on the right. General view of the prison camp at Hameln, highlighting the commandant's office (the first building on the right) and the prison school house (the building on the left). There is a decorative garden in front of the commandant's office and the wooden barracks of the camp can be seen in the background.
On the 1901 census William was living with his family at 5 Silver Street, Blackhill, his father was a bricklayers labourer. In 1911 he was still with his family who were now residing at 53 Wood Street, Shotley Bridge and his employment is recorded as a coal miner putter. The family had moved to Wood Street on or before 1910 as William is recorded in The Durham County Advertiser Friday 01/07/1910 as being a witness in court to an altercation in Wood Street and his address is given as 53 Wood Street.
[Also in the 1911 there is a William Toole visitor, at no 5 Neale Terrace, Tantobie, Co Durham, with the same details as his 1911 census at 53 Wood Street].
William joined the army on the 28th January 1913 aged 20 years. Service number 11544 He was therefore classed as a "regular" soldier and would be well trained when war was declared. Although in all the army papers that have survived, William is always referred to as a private, however, his photographs from his time as a P.O.W., show him wearing the stripe of a Lance Corporal and his marriage certificate records him as a Lance Corporal. He was recorded as working for Consett Iron Company prior to enlistment and in his post war employment he is a miner. The only photographs of William as a soldier were taken when he was a P.O.W.
During the days leading up to Britain declaring war on Germany on the 4th August 1914, the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry received orders to move to South Shields. A detachment of 400 men, of whom 137 were attached from 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, moved from Headquarters at Lichfield to South Shields under the command of Major D'Arcy Wentworth Mander.
As William was a regular soldier he would have been included in this move. At 18:00 hours on 4 August 1914 the telegram ordering mobilisation arrived at Battalion Headquarters at Lichfield, this was followed by a telegraph order sent to South Shields for the detachment to move to their allotted places.
The detachment of 400 men were deployed as follows: Captain E W Birt and 21 men were sent to Hebburn Dock, Lieutenant H Taylor and 25 men to the oil depot at South Shields, Lieutenant L Norton and 25 men to Frenchmans Battery South Shields, Lieutenant W Grey-Wilson and 20 men to Palmers Dock Jarrow and the remainder of the men were in supporting roles.
On the night of the 4th August immediately after the declaration of war, Major Mander, assisted by Captain H Hare, Lieutenant V Yate and 30 men, seized a German merchant ship and arrested the crew. The ship was the German Steamer "Albert Clement" and had 8 crew on board. The crew were placed in the central Police Station at South Shields. We have no way of knowing where William was deployed that night but he may have been involved with the arresting of the crew, which is possibly the first military action taken against the enemy in WWI.
On the morning of the 6th August the Precautionary Period Detachment from South Shields returned to Lichfield. William, along with all the other men, would be busy checking his kit and preparing to leave for their war station. On the 7th August, at 20:25 hrs, the order was received for the Battalion to move to its war station. The men paraded at 22:00 hrs ready to march to the railway station, but they found that they did not have the harnesses for the horses. The men therefore man-handled the wagons to the station.
8th August 14:15 hrs.
Battalion Headquarters along with 'A' and 'B' Companies arrived at Dunfermline. The commanding officer checked around the neighbourhood and 'A' and 'B' companies moved into billets at the Carnegie Library. They were joined shortly afterwards by the remaining companies and then moved into camp at Pittengrief Park. It would appear from articles printed in the Dunfermline press that the men were well looked after by the people of Dunfermline, they had many of the comforts of home provided by the women of Dunfermline, such as cleaning, washing, knitting of socks, night shirts and other garments along with musical programmes and various entertainments.
For the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry these comforts did not last long as on the 13th August along with the other divisions of the 18th Brigade they arrived at Cambridge where they went into camp on Jesus Common. The dining hall and common room of Jesus College was placed at the disposal of the 2nd Battalion D.L.I. and 18th Infantry Brigade Headquarters as an officers mess. Whilst at Jesus Common, Battalion and Brigade training was carried out, further preparing the men for the future. On the 23rd August the Dean of Durham arrived at the camp and held a service for the Battalion.
On the 7th September the Battalion left Cambridge and marched to Newmarket where after a very hot and trying march they arrived at about 15:30 hrs. Later that night they travelled in two trains for Southampton. On the first train was the Battalion Headquarters, Captain W Northey's 'A' Company and Major Mander's 'B' Company, on the second train were Major Crossthwaite with Major Blake's 'C' Company and Major Robb's 'D' Company. On arrival at Southampton the first train embarked on the "City of Benares" ship number 114004 and the second train embarked on the "Bellarophon". Both ships set sail for St. Nazaire and arrived at about 18:00 hrs from where the men marched to rest camp. Then both "trainloads" went independently by rail to Coulommiers and into billets at St. Germain.
On the 15th September the Battalion marched 25 miles and passed trenches, shell holes, broken telegraph poles and motor lorries carrying wounded soldiers. When they arrived at Chateau Thiery they found much damage to the houses and buildings and went into very uncomfortable billets at midnight.
Early the next day they marched another 18 miles to Tigny and again billeted. This time they were in a very large farm and the whole battalion were together. On 17th September they marched to Chacrise and billeted there for the night. They left Chacrise the next afternoon at 14:50 hrs and marched through Braine to Bourg and again went into billets. It was on 19th September that 2nd Battalion took over their first front line trench. They left Bourg at dusk and took over the trenches North of Troyon from the 2nd Brigade. The whole Battalion occupied the trenches and they had a quiet night.
Early the next morning, 20th September, the Germans attacked and the Battalion on the right flank (West Yorkshires) gave way. This enabled the enemy to rake the 2nd Battalion's trench with machine gun fire and cause considerable loss until the Battalion in reserve re-occupied the trenches on the right flank. The Durhams received orders along with the Forresters to counter attack and drive the Germans out of their entrenched position on the side of the hill. There followed severe fighting and the men were subjected to a terrible ordeal of bullets and shells and although they fought bravely they suffered many losses before they returned to their own trenches. The casualties were 5 officers killed and 5 officers wounded, 36 other ranks killed and 92 other ranks wounded. The Battalion remained in the front line trenches until relieved on 25 September and they then marched to Peargnon arriving around midnight.
At 09:00 hrs they left Peargnon and marched to a wood North of Bourg and they became the reserve to the 3rd Brigade. At dusk that evening they went into support trenches at Vendresse. They were relieved by the 1st Brigade on the 27th September.
The Battalion left Vendresse at 10:30 hrs on 1 October and marched to Vauxtin and there went into billets. After this small respite, at 19:00 hrs 2nd October they marched to Ciry and took over a line of defence from 4th Division Cyclists. These had earlier taken over from the West Riding Regiment and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers to allow the Durhams to make the relief that evening. Although the village was a dangerous place to be in daylight, the civilians were still there and the Battalion were able to buy eggs, milk, coffee and chicken.
7th October the 2nd Battalion D.L.I. were relieved by the Lancashire Fusiliers and they then rejoined the 18th Brigade. The battalion then marched to St. Remy and then on to Largny. At 14:00 hrs on the 8th October they marched to St. Sauveur (Oise), then 9th October they marched to Le Meux and entrained for Arcques and then went into billets. Later they marched to Wardrecques, bivouacked during the day and went into billets at night. The next morning, 12th October, the battalion went into french motor lorries and arrived at Hazebrouck at 15:00 hrs and again went into billets.
The next day the battalion marched to Vieux Berquin and at 14:00 hrs advanced to the attack of Les Fermes, the attack was successful although 2 officers were killed and 1 wounded and 11 other ranks were killed and 60 wounded.
The Battalion advanced to Le Verrier on the 14th October and again were billeted. Then the 15th October they marched about 3 miles and rested for several hours before setting off at 14:00 hrs for Sailly. They found Sailly had been evacuated by the enemy so they took up outpost positions south of the town. Two days later, 17th October, they marched to Bois Grenier where 2 companies took up a line between Tourquet and Le Quesne, they returned to their outpost positions after dark having sustained 1 other rank killed. At 15:45 hrs the 2nd Battalion D.L.I. were ordered to attack the village of Ennetteres, this attack proved successful but their losses were 2 officers wounded, 4 other ranks killed, 74 wounded and 29 missing. After this action the Battalion was withdrawn to reserve at Fetus, although 'C' Company was left in reserve to the Sherwood Forresters at La Vallee.
William's final day with 'C' Company and Battalion began on the 20th October with an attack in strength by the German Army all along the British front, from Ypres to Armentieres. At 08:30 hrs the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry were ordered forward to La Vallee, soon after 'B' and 'D' Companies were sent to support the East Yorkshire Regiment at Paradis. At 11.a.m. the commanding officer was ordered to take the remaining 'A' Company to Paradis as a gap in the firing line had opened up between the 1st East Yorkshire and 1st North Stafford Regiments. This gap was filled by 2nd Battalion 'B' Company and a platoon from 'A' Company.
At about 15:30 hrs 'D' Company was ordered to support the 1st West Yorkshire Regiment which was on the right of the East Yorkshires. An hour later, 16:30 hrs, the commanding officer was ordered to take all his men not actually engaged in fighting back to La Vallee, this consisted of only three platoons of 'A' Company. On the way to La Vallee they met the officer commanding the Sherwood Forresters who stated that his right flank had been turned by a large enemy force and that La Vallee was in the hands of the enemy. So the three platoons were withdrawn to Fetus to prevent any further advance of the enemy on that flank.
We will probably never know what exactly happened to the D.L.I. platoons supporting the West Yorkshire Regiment but it is recorded in the Battalion war diary that Major Blake took two platoons of his Company into a factory. From the upper floors they brought very effective fire to bear on the Germans attacking the Sherwood Foresters, this attracted fire from the German Artillery and the factory took a direct hit from a shell and was destroyed. Major Blake was killed and many of his men were killed, wounded or captured as only a very few of them returned to the British lines. The remaining two platoons of 'C' Company under Lieutenant Norton were sent to the right flank to help the Sherwood Forresters retire. During this action Lieutenant Norton was wounded and taken prisoner and as only 23 N.C.O.s and men of C Company returned it was assumed that they were either killed or had suffered the same fate as the Lieutenant and had been taken prisoner. The casualty list was 1 officer killed, 2 wounded, 1 wounded and missing, other ranks 4 killed, 46 wounded and 177 missing.
So it was during the day of the 20th October 1914 that Lance Corporal William Toole 11544 was taken prisoner. He had spent just 43 days in France in action from the 8th September to the 20th October 1914, he then spent 4 years 28 days as a P.O.W. in Germany and Holland.
German Prisoner of War records show that William was captured at Lille on the 20th/21st October 1914 and was incarcerated in a camp at Aix or Aachen, a camp at Hameln (Hamelin), approximately 200 miles from Aachen. Far West of Germany, bordering France/Belgium/Netherlands. The camp is three miles from the town and is surrounded by farms. It consists of a big square with six blocks of huts. Capacity, 18,000. Many N.C.O.'s were concentrated here at one time. On the Weser- near the influx of the Hamel. The prison camp is placed on low ground with wooded hills behind it. It is a mile from Hameln Town, and the parent camp of many working camps. It consists of 100 barracks, all of the same type, radiating from a central point. Theatre and a Y.M.C.A. hall. 10th German Army Corps was responsible for this camp. The records state that he was not wounded or suffering from illness.
The Stanley Chronicle Friday 05/03/1915.
Is a letter from William to his aunt and it shows the feelings of loneliness and separation from family he felt as a P.O.W. It also highlights the generous nature of Mrs Peile who supplied many parcels to the P.O.W. throughout the war.
In July 1917, there was an agreement between the German and Allies that commissioned and Non Commissioned officers who had been in captivity for more than 18 months were eligible for internment in either Holland or Switzerland. William may have been part of the first party of British POW's who arrived in Holland for internment.
Source : New York Times 28/07/1917.
Late in the war, the Netherlands provided internment camps for British and German prisoners of war, following a bilateral agreement between the two states in 1917. These wartime agreements marked real humanitarian achievements, even if the numbers of captives affected were relatively small, and officers benefited disproportionately. The Netherlands also interned Belgian POWs from 1914: these were men who had escaped Belgium after the Fall of Antwerp in October 1914 and were interned in the Netherlands because of that state’s neutrality obligations.
William arrived in the Internment camp in Holland on the 30th April 1918. He was photographed with other internees.
William finally arrived back in England on the 18th November 1918 on the "SS Willochra" ship number 122744. [Fort Victoria was a 7,784 GRT cruise ship which was built in 1912 as Willochra. During the First World War she was requisitioned for use as a troopship. In 1920 she was sold and renamed Fort Victoria, serving until lost in a collision in 1929].
William married Mary Ellen [nee Carney] on the 21st April 1919 at the St Mary's Catholic Church at Blackhill, and he remained in the Army until his discharge on the 13th March 1920 under King's Regulation 392 (xvia). This shows that William was surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service, therefore discharged from the Army. As Amended by an Army Order no 403 November 1918.
Mary Ellen Carney was born on the 18th April 1899 at 5 Bottle Bank, Blackhill, one of nine children to parents Nicholas Carney [born 1858 died 20th June 1908] and Jane Ann nee O'Neil, born 1862 died 1917. They were married 7th January 1880 at St. Marys R.C. Church, Blackhill.
William was entitled to a 20% war pension based on his disability from the 15th September 1920 at 8 Shillings a week for him, though his wife was not entitled to any. He was entitled from the 15th March 1920. The award was subsequently increased to 12 shillings a week as his disability was later re-assessed at 30% and his wife was illegible, however this was subsequently revised and the pension reverted back to 20% at 8 shillings a week. The pension was overpaid as his wife was not entitled, and this was adjusted by taking the overpayments from his future pension allowance. The pension stopped on the 11th September 1923.
William appealed against the decision and his appeal was not allowed, as a letter of 22nd June 1926 recorded the decision. His injuries he stated was suffering from Tubercular Adenitis and a general debility caused by insufficient food, exposure and ill treatment during his time as a P.O.W.
William is now residing at 5 Oxley Street, Blackhill and was working as a Stoneman for the Consett Iron Company at the time of his appeal. William with his wife Mary Ellen had 8 children. Tragedy was, however, to strike again as one of their sons, Kevin, died at the age of 10 years in 1942 and another of their sons, William Toole, a Stoker 1st Class onboard the HMS Whitaker, was Killed In Action in 1944 aged 20.
William and his family moved to 70 Chaytor Road, Bridgehill, Consett and in 1939, William and his wife were residing still there with 8 children, James Joseph, born 18th November 1920, an apprentice bricklayer, married 3rd January 1953 to Mary Margaret O'Callaghan, [born 1931 died 1996], died 17th June 1988, John Nicholson Toole, born 1922, married 1956, died 1992, William Toole, born 16th March 1924, died 1st November 1944, [Stoker 1st Class onboard the HMS Whitaker, was Killed In Action in 1944], Jane Ann Toole, born 1926, married 1959, died May 1980, Thomas Leo born 18th September 1928, died 1998, Kevin Toole, born 1932, died 1942, Gerald Kenneth, born 6th July 1930, Francis born 31st August 1936, married 1958, died 2018.
Wiliam died aged 83 years in 1976.
William Toole senior is not remembered on a North East War Memorial, but his son William Toole is remembered at Blackhill on B145.01 and Consett on C101.01
