Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Thomas Kingston known as William was born in 1895 at Urpeth, district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, the eldest of 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters. His father Frederick Kingston originated from Wensbury, Staffordshire, where he was born in 1867 and had been taken by his family by 1881 to the parish of Astwell and Falcott, Northamptonshire, he and his father were employed at Park Farm House as agricultural labourers. Frederick migrated to the north east between 1891 and 1894 and was married in the district of Chester-le-Street in 1895 to Margaret Olivant born 1871 at Craghead, County Durham. They had a daughter Lizzie born 1894 prior to their marriage, William Thomas was born 1895, John 1899, Mary 1902, Norman 1903 and Jane 1906. Employed as a coal miner/hewer Frederick supported his family living at Urpeth Cottage, Urpeth in 1891 and had moved to Beamish by 1911. William Thomas at the age of 15 years was also employed, working as a butcher’s boy, his elder sister Lizzie (17) remained as home helping with domestic duties, their younger siblings were scholars.
On the outbreak of war William Thomas was 19 years of age and eligible for service. He enlisted exact date unknown, assigned as Private 29983 22nd Labour Corps, West Yorkshire Regiment. This may possibly have been due to the fact that he was medically rated below, “A1.” In the absence of his military and medal roll cards it is impossible to follow his exact movements. He was at some point after January 1917, when the Corps was formed, transferred as Private 10490 to the 144th Labour Corps. The Labour Corps Units were used as emergency infantry when required and were unfortunately treated as something of a second class organisation, if and when they died they were commemorated under their original regiment with Labour Corps being secondary.
This is so in the case of Private William Thomas Kingston who died of suffocation, further details unavailable, August 8th 1919 almost 9 months after the declaration of the Armistice. The CWGC list him as Private 29983 West Yorkshire Regiment while the Register of Soldiers Effects as Private 10490. Private Kingston is interred at Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, Pas de Calais, France, grave XVIII. A. 24.
His father received all monies owed to him by the Army and his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-15 Star had he served overseas during that period.
Margaret Kingston nee Olivant died in 1931 aged 60 years, Frederick Kingston aged 79 years in 1946, both registered in the district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Thomas is remembered at Iveston on I5.01 as Kingstone at Leadgate L65.02 at West Pelton on W112.01
