Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Hart Pendleton, one of 8 known children was the 3rd born of 4 sons, he had 2 elder and 2 younger sisters. His father Richard Pendleton born 1843 at Haddington, Shetland, Scotland was brought as a child to Alnwick, Northumberland, where he met a local girl Jane Hart, born 1845, whom he married, October 8th 1861 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. In the census of 1871, listed in error as Robert Pendleton, he and his wife and children, Hugh 1864, Mary Ann 1867 and Annie 1871, were living at Buckingham Street, Westgate, Newcastle, where he was a shoemaker. Between 1871 and 1878 they moved to Tyne Dock, South Shields where Daniel and Henry Hart were born in 1878 and 1880 respectively. In the census of 1881, at 3, Marshall’s Buildings, the entire family is listed in error under the surname Hart, having been given to all of their children as a middle name. Before moving to Kells Buildings, Kyo, County Durham they had a further 3 children, Richard born 1885, Isabella 1887 and Ellen 1892. Richard continued to ply his trade as a shoemaker until they transferred to Greencroft, near Annfield Plain where he was employed with Henry (21) at South Pontop Colliery. Richard Pendleton died in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1904 aged 61 years.
Henry Hart Pendleton married in the district of Lanchester in 1904 to Elizabeth Chorley, born 1883 at Prescot, Lancashire, her family had migrated to the north east between 1886 to 1888. In 1911 they were living at 3, West View Terrace, Annfield Plain. Elizabeth had given birth to 3 children, John Hart born 1903 who died in infancy, Mary 1905 and Henry Jnr 1907, she gave birth later that year to Norman and Richard in 1913.
On the outbreak of war in 1914 Henry Hart Pendleton and his brother Daniel left their employment as miners at South Pontop Colliery and were one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 335 and 334 Northumberland Fusiliers joining their regiment at their barracks and transferred to the 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion formed mainly from men of Scottish decent. They initially trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick castle January 29th 1915. June 1915 they transferred to Ripon, Yorkshire where the battalion was attached to the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division. As part of the British Expeditionary Force they departed to France in January 1916 and concentrated near La Crosse, east of St. Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they were moved to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming offensive due to commence June 29th 1916, which because of bad weather did not take place until July 1st 1916. At 7.28 a.m. July 1st 1916 two huge mines were detonated in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines, one to the north, the other to the south of the village of La Boisselle, near Albert. The 20th Battalion had 500 yards to cross under machine gun fire before reaching the German lines, 26 Officers and 564 men lost their lives, they successfully captured Scots and Sausage Redoubts.
Private 335 Henry Hart Pendleton, Northumberland Fusiliers was one of those killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died in the sector before March 20th 1918 and have no known grave. Private Pendleton was 36 years of age.
His widow Elizabeth received all monies due to him, his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and a pension for herself and their 4 children until she remarried in 1919 to James Stephenson.
Elizabeth’s brother serving as Private 14862 James Chorley East Yorkshire Regiment also died that same day and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Two of Henry’s brothers also served, Daniel and Richard both survived the Great War.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Henry Hart Pendleton is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 and G54.02 at Annfield Plain on A38.01 at Dipton on D46.06 and at Leadgate on L65.01
