Craghead St. Thomas
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Smith was born in Craghead, enlisted in Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1915, assigned as Guardsman 14530 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. He was not drafted to France until 1916 and his Battalion took part in the Battles of the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd 1916, Battle of Morval September 28th-29th 1916 and began its involvement in the Battle of Passchendaele July 1917. In March 1918 they fought at the Second Battle of the Somme and in autumn the regiment was involved in the final battles of the war on the Western Front.
The record for Guardsman 14530 Thomas Smith no longer exists, one of 70% that were destroyed during the blitz of WW2. He died, “at home”, November 9th 1918, as a consequence of disease or wounds sustained in the service of his country and is interred Craghead St. Thomas Churchyard, grave B. 4. 7. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
Thomas Smith is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at Stanley St. Joseph's S135.03
