Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Smith, one of 9 children of whom only 7 survived, was the eldest of 4 sons and 3 daughters. His father Samuel Smith was born at Tollerton, Yorkshire in 1872 and had migrated to the north east where he met Jane Kell born 1879 at Ferryhill, County Durham. They were married in the district of Sedgefield in 1897 settling at 21, Chapel Row, Chilton and by 1901 had 2 children, Ada born 1898 and Thomas 1900, Samuel was employed at the colliery as a general labourer. By 1911 they had moved to 35, Seventh Street, Horden Colliery where Samuel was working as a plate layer above ground. As the only breadwinner he supported his wife and 6 children, Ada (12), Thomas (11), Ralph (9), Frances (7), Violet (6) all of whom were scholars and Samuel Jnr 5 weeks old, their youngest son Richard was born during the first quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1914, within months Britain was at war.
Thomas was only 14 years old when the war commenced and in order to enlist when he was older told a lie as regards his age. The family had moved from Ferryhill Station to Muggleswick, near Consett, County Durham, however, he enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and must only have been 17 years of age, not only under age to enlist (18) but also to serve overseas (19). He was assigned as Private 46955 to the 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Bantam Battalion made up of men below the required height of 5” 3” which would have assisted him in his deception. After a period of training he joined his regiment in the field, exact date unknown, which in 1918 was in action as of March on the Somme, where the Germans had opened a new front, before joining the advance in Belgium and were the first battalion to enter Coltrai.
Private 46955 Thomas Smith was reported as missing during the fighting on the Ypres salient and after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts was struck off and declared as killed in action on or shortly after October 1st 1918. Private Smith has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 34,997 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms part of the perimeter wall at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium. He was 18 years of age.
His father Samuel received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at Pit House, Brandon, County Durham.
The inscription, “Also In Memory Of Private T. Smith, D.L.I. Killed In Action 1st October 1918,” appears on the military headstone of Thomas’ brother Richard Smith 831699 Royal Artillery who died at University Hospital Lewisham, London, December 9th 1940. At the request of his family his remains were transported to Castleside, County Durham where his parents were then living and interred in St. John’s churchyard.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Smith is possibly remembered at Meadowfield on M50.01 at Langley Moor on L63.05 and at Muggleswick on M48.02 and M48.03
He is also remembered in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 269
