CWGC Headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Anthony Hood was the 5th born of his 6 siblings of whom only 5 had survived by 1911. His father Mark Hood born in 1843 at Hedley, Northumberland married the eldest daughter of William and Lucille Smith. Alice Smith was born at Winlaton, Gateshead, County Durham, in 1848, an unmarried mother with a 2-year-old child Isabella, when she and Mark were married in the district of Gateshead, in 1873. They settled at Winlaton, birthplace of son William, June16th 1875, Joseph was born Barlow, Blaydon-on-Tyne, in 1878, Lucille also in Winlaton in 1880 but in 1881 they were living in the mining village of Garesfield Colliery, Chopwell, where Mark Hood was employed as a coal miner. Over the next ten years Alice gave birth to a further 3 sons, Robert in Winlaton in 1883, Anthony in 1885 and John Thomas in 1888. They were living at Whickham Road, Swalwell in 1891 where both William (16) and Joseph (14) had joined their father at the colliery as coal miner helpers, tragically Joseph at the age of 22-years died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec)1899. He was not involved in any mining accident, his death perhaps could be attributed to him being a casualty of war as Great Britain fought in South Africa during the Boer War from October 1899 to May 31st 1902. By 1911 only hewers Robert (27) and Anthony (25) were living at home with their parent, which was now 4 rooms at 44, Severn Street, Chopwell, County Durham.
Britain declared war with Germany, August 4th 1914, sadly this coincided with the death of Joseph Hood during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1914, aged 25-years. He and his wife, Mary Jane Walton had only been married since 1909 and had a 1-year old child, Robert. He was a coal miner below ground but no record has been found as regards an industrial accident.
The British Army had in January 1915 realised that the Germans were mining on the Western Front and posing a danger to troops on the ground. In a counter tactic the Tunnelling Companies 170-177 were formed by February 1915. Coal miner Anthony Hood of Walton Terrace, Ebchester, County Durham, enlisted in London, June 1st 1915, assigned as Sapper 102154 to the Royal Engineers. He was transferred as a tunnellers mate to the 171st Tunnelling Coy and June 4th 1916, he departed with the British Expeditionary Force, to France. Arriving at the base depot he was posted to the 171st Tunnelling Coy on the Ypres salient in Belgium. No sooner had he joined his unit then June 13th he was injured, a shell graze, and admitted to the 15th Field Ambulance, attached to the 5th Division where he remained for 13 days before returning to his unit. July 13th 1915 he was posted to the 172nd Tunnelling Coy which was hard at work tunnelling on The Bluff half way between Voormesele and Hollebeke, an important military objective on the surrounding high ground. During the month of August Sapper Hood was in and out of the Field Ambulance, August 4th classed as debilitated, August 13th suffering from deafness and during September 1915 spent 7 days from the 11th-18th in the care of the 7th Field Ambulance of the 3rd Division, suffering from influenza.
After a fall in the trenches, August 10th 1916 he was again admitted to hospital having fractured the 2nd meta carpel in his hand. Evacuated back through the lines he arrived at the 12th General Hospital and from there repatriated to England. September 7th it was reported he was making satisfactory progress, his hand was in a splint and had passive movement. Discharged as fit, after a period of convalescence, November 2nd 1916, Sapper Hood was transferred to the British Expeditionary Force Base Depot and returned to his unit, January 31st 1917, where he was transferred to the 174th Tunnelling Coy.
Sapper 102154 Anthony Hood Royal Engineers was killed in action, March 7th 1917 on the Somme and taken to the village of Aveluy used by the British units and Field Ambulances where he was interred within Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, grave I. M. 20. Sapper Hood was 32 years of age and single.
His father was notified of his death March 20th 1917 at Dalton Towers, Dalton-le-Dale. As sole legitimate beneficiary his mother Alice received all monies due to her son from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, also a pension of 15 shillings a week as of circa July 1st 1917.
Anthony’s eldest brother, who had enlisted in 1914 and served as Lance Corporal William Hood Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died in Germany whilst a P.O.W., September 14th 1918.
Alice Hood nee Smith died in 1932, district of Gateshead, County Durham, aged 83-years, her death preceded by that of her husband Mark Hood in 1931 aged 88-years, district of Lanchester, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Anthony Hood is remembered at Ebchester on E58.01 and at Chopwell on C92.01 and C92.02
