Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Ernest Toward, one of 9 children, was the second eldest of 4 surviving brothers and had 3 younger sisters. His father William Cuthbert Toward was born at Castleside, County Durham in 1864, at the age of 17 he was living with his parents at Castleside, employed as an iron worker, his father worked at the coke ovens and his mother was a dress maker. Married in 1890 in the district of Lanchester, County Durham, to Margaret Jane Proud, native of Castleside, born 1868, they settled in their home town. The first of their sons, John James was born in 1893, William Ernest 1894, Thomas Edward 1898 and Joseph Henry 1900. In 1901 they were living at 6, Maudville, Castleside, William supported his family working for Consett Iron and Steel Company as a smelter. Ten years later their family had grown with the birth of 3 daughters, Margaret Jane, Constance Margaret and Georgina in 1902,1906 and 1907 respectively. By 1911 John and William had joined their father at the steel works as crane drivers, Joseph Henry (10), Margaret Jane (9) and Constance Margaret (6) although of school age are not listed as such, Georgina was now 3 years old.
Unfortunately, William’s service record has not been found, it is therefore impossible to follow his exact movements. He was living at Castleside upon the outbreak of war and enlisted at Consett, assigned as Private 11768 to the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The 2nd Battalion, which had been recalled from Malta at the outbreak of war, had landed at Zeebrugge, Belgium, October 10th 1914 however Private Toward did not depart to the front until after January 1916 by which time the Warwickshires had been sent to Gallipoli and did not serve again in Europe.
The 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment had been withdrawn from Gallipoli, arriving in France, March 20th 1916 at Marseilles. With a change of service number as Private 40623 Toward he joined his regiment on the Somme engaging the enemy during the attack at Beaumont Hemel. July 29th the regiment entrained and made its way to the Ypres salient in Belgium where it remained for 2 months before returning to the Somme in October 1916 for the final stages of the Battles of the Somme.
By the spring of 1917 they had moved to the Arras sector in preparation for the offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917. Private 40623 William Ernest Toward Worcestershire Regiment died of wounds sustained in action, May 1st 1917 and taken to Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, he was interred, grave XVIII. F. 13A. He was 23 years of age and single.
As his sole beneficiary his mother Margaret Jane received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 9, Consett Park Terrace, Castleside, Consett, County Durham. She paid for an additional inscription to be added to her son’s military headstone, it reads, “Dearer To Memory Than Words Can Tell.”
Margaret Jane Toward nee Proud died in 1923 aged 55 years, her husband William Cuthbert Toward aged 63 years in 1928, both deaths registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Ernest Toward is remembered at Castleside on C113.01
