Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Andrew Corbett was born 1876 in Crook, County Durham, one of 6 known children, 3 boys and 3 girls, born to Irish immigrants James Corbett 1831 Kilmurray, County Waterford, Ireland and his wife Catherine Cash 1851 Cork, Ireland. James and Catherine were married June 1868 in the district of Bishop Auckland finally setting up home at Wheatbottom, Helmington Row, where James was employed as a coke filler until his retirement, Andrew worked as a coal miner - hewer. His ather died in about 1911, his mother went to live with her daughter Mary and her husband John Mooney at Front Street, Stanley.
Andrew Corbett enlisted in Newcastle upon Tyne, November 23rd 1914 and was assigned as Private 1408 to the 3rd Tyneside Irish, 26th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals battalion. Moved on March 1915 to Woolsingham they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. Taken over by the War Office August 27th 1915 they were moved to Salisbury Plain by the end of the month, crossing to France in January 1916. Preparations for the Battle of the Somme were underway, extending railway links to transport men, horses, ammunition and food, road building, sinking bore holes and laying pipes to enable a water supply for the horses and men, the latter being the minimal for washing. The 26th Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916 part of the Battles of the Somme. Private 1408 Andrew Corbett Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916, one of the 58,000 casualties, a third of whom died, sustained that day, the worst day in the history of the British Army. His sacrifice is recorded, pier and face 10/11/12B, on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which commemorates the 72,195 missing British and South African servicemen who died between 1915 to 1918 and have no known grave. Andrew was 40 years old and was single.
His mother Catherine as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Andrew Corbett is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at Stanley on S135.03
