Thomas Henry Turnbull
Thomas Henry Turnbull
Sarah Annie, Thomas Henry, Aunt Tedie
Curgies Communal Cemetery Mother and sister Annie
Ian Murray has submitted the following:-
Thomas Henry was the son of John Baker Turnbull and Margaret Ellen Richardson. John Baker Turnbull was born in 1866 in Lanchester and in 1881 was living with his family at Sheepwalks Farm between Knitsley and Butsfield. Margaret Ellen Richardson was born in Ricknall near Aycliffe, in 1870 but was brought up in Knitsley, probably in the Railway Houses, as her father was a platelayer. Margaret and John married in 1889. In 1901 they were living at Woodlands Cottage, also near Knitsley, where John was a farm hind, probably at Woodlands Hall. Their son, Thomas Henry had been born in 1890 and they later had a daughter, Sarah Annie, born in 1895.
The 1901 census records Margaret, Thomas and Sarah living at Knitsley Grange with Margaret’s brother while Margaret’s husband is living with his brother in law at Red Houses, another farm in the same area.
In 1911, Thomas, by now aged 21 and a clerk at a chemical works, was living at West Knitsley Grange where his mother’s occupation was given as Farmer.
Thomas enlisted in December 1915 and in March 1916 began his service in the Northern Cyclist Battalion. He was posted on the 3rd May but in September he was transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers and posted with the 21st Battalion (one of the Tyneside Scottish Battalions).
His service record includes an entry for June 1917: School of Military Aeronautics - discharged having been appointed to a temporary commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. The RFC later became the Royal Air Force in 1918.
Thomas died on 26th October 1918, aged 28, and is buried in Curgies Communal Cemetery. His headstone inscription reads: “Absent But Not Forgotten, Not Lost But In God’s Care Truly Loved”
John Baker Turnbull was knocked down and killed by a motor cycle at Knitsley in April 1929 and Margaret Ellen Turnbull died at Whitley Bay 1st April 1941.
In Lanchester Churchyard is a headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Emily RICHARDSON
beloved daughter of the late
William and Alice RICHARDSON
of Knitsley Grange
who died February 1921
aged 44 years.
Also Sarah J. THOMPSON
sister of the above,
beloved wife of William THOMPSON,
of Oxen Law
who died December 23rd 1921
aged 54 years.
Also Thomas Henry TURNBULL
nephew of the above,
Lieut. Royal Air Force
Killed in action at Curcies, France
26th October 1918 aged 28 years.
"Thy will be done"
Photographs: Joyce Wilson
Thomas Henry Turnbull is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 and at Knitsley on K31.01
