Thomas Best
Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Christopher Best born 1895, one of 8 children of whom only 6 survived, was the 2nd born of 3 sons and had 1 elder and 2 younger sisters, all of whom were born at Iveston, County Durham. His father John Best of Stocksfield, Northumberland, born 1869 was married in the district of Lanchester in 1888 to Martha Bell born 1866 at Tow Law, County Durham. Whilst living at 3 Carr House Stables, Iveston in 1891, he worked as a horseman to support his wife and newborn son William, living with them was Martha’s brother, horse driver John Bell and his wife Eliza. Ten years later he was working for his own account as a cart man and their family was almost complete with the birth of a further 4 children Isabel 1894, Thomas, Annie 1898 and Martha 1900, their youngest son John Jnr was born in 1906. Although their father worked for his own account at Bank Top Farm, Iveston, his sons were not employed by him preferring instead to work at the colliery, William (21) as a hewer, Thomas (15) a pony driver. To supplement the family income they had a boarder, 26 year old Matthew Moore, a cart man.
Aged 19 years 4 months Thomas enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, November 13th 1914. Assigned as Private 22039 Durham Light Infantry he joined his regiment at their barracks and was posted to the 17th Battalion two days later. As part of new recruits he arrived from Newcastle at Barnard Castle and moved into the old 4th Battalion D.L.I. camp at Deerbolt to begin training. Prior to his departure as part of the British Expeditionary Force, July 26th 1915, he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the regular Army. The battalion departed attached to the 18th Brigade, 6th Division from Southampton, they arrived in France where the battalion joined the regiment in the filed July 30th 1915 in Belgium at Hooge where on August 8th-9th 1915 the 2nd Battalion suffered the loss of over 50 officers and 1,500 men killed, wounded or missing.
Private Best’s father wrote a letter to the Officer in Charge, Durham Light Infantry Records, August 25th 1915, which reads as follows, “Re Pte. Thomas C. Best No.22039 B Coy 18th Brigade, 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 6th Division. Sir I shall feel very much indebted if you could give me any information regards the above named my son who was a member of the Expeditionary Force leaving Barnard Castle 26th July 1915. I had a letter from him dated 9th Aug where he stated he was in the trenches and several rumours are afloat here that he has been killed in action. I am sure you will realise the suspense we are in at home and hope you will be able to access to my request as early as you can so that his mother and sister may be spared any further anxiety if the worst that is feared has happened. Yours faithfully, John Best.”
Unfortunately, their worst fears were confirmed that their son, Private 22039 Thomas Christopher Best had been killed in action August 9th 1915, 10 days after his arrival on the Western Front. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 54,613 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium commemorating servicemen from Britain and the Commonwealth who died on the Ypres salient 1914 to August 15th 1917 who have no known grave or whose grave has never been found. He was 19 years of age and single.
As per his will all his effects were given to his mother including all monies owed to him by the Army, she received a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at the family’s new address of 12, Durham Road, Iveston, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
The Consett Guardian 21/05/1915 reads:-
The first native of the ancient and quiet little village of Iveston to offer up his life on behalf of King and country is Private Thomas C. Best of the 2nd D.L.I. – a young fellow of only 20 years of age, who was greatly liked and esteemed by all who knew him. The deceased was the second surviving son of Mr and Mrs John Best of Bank Top Farm, Iveston and was thus a member of one of the oldest and most respected families in the village and his death is deeply deplored on all sides. He was employed for some time at East Castle Colliery but at the period when he enlisted he was working for Mr W. Hall, who has the contract for driving the drift from Eden Colliery to East Castle.
The deceased did his training at Barnard Castle and left for the front in the highest spirits on Monday night, July 26th, arriving in France on the following Wednesday. On Monday, August 9th he was killed in the fierce fighting at Hooge only a fortnight after he left "Barney." For his years he was an exceptionally well developed young fellow and was extremely popular with both officers and men. To his sorrowing father and mother and the other members of the family the utmost sympathy will go out; but they have the consolation of knowing that he died a hero's death, cheerfully sacrificing his life in his country's cause in order to keep the barbarous Huns from invading our shores, and meting out to our loved ones at home similar – or –worse treatment to that experienced by the unfortunate Belgians.
Although we shall see his genial face no more, the memory of Tom Best will long be cherished in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Like a true Britisher he heard and responded to the call, and has made the greatest sacrifice that any man can make in the interests of his King and country. We can say of him as was said of one of old, "He has fought the fight; he has kept the faith and has now entered into his reward."
Iveston – History, Memory, Legends by Mary Kipling contains information with photo of Private Thomas C. Best of 2nd D.L.I. stating that he was the first from the village to be killed in action in 1914-18.
The Blaydon Courier 09/08/1919 reads:-Best - In loving memory of Thomas Christopher Best beloved son of John and Martha Best of Iveston who fell in action on 9th August 1915. Ever remembered by his father and mother, brothers, sisters and sister in law.
Thomas Christopher Best is remembered at Iveston on I5.01 at Leadgate on L65.02 L65.03 and L65.07
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 208
