Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Fenwick was the youngest of 3 siblings and the only son of Robert Fenwick born 1861 at Shincliffe, County Durham, and Ellen Bewick born at Hexham, Northumberland, where she was baptised, August 3rd 1864.
His father Robert from an early age with his 4 elder siblings was living with his widowed grandfather, John Dawson, in 1871 they were at Old Durham Colliery House, Elvet, by 1881 only he, employed as an engine wright and Robert (20) a colliery blacksmith, were together at Windlestone Colliery Cottage, Chilton. Robert met and was married in 1885 to Ellen Bewick whom after the death of her father, along with brother Fenwick and her mother had transferred by 1881 to 249, High Row, Hamsteels, Esh, County Durham. Ellen supported her mother working from home as a dressmaker, Fenwick was a labourer and to increment the family income they had taken in 2 boarders, coal miner Thomas Kellet (21) and Thomas Hardy (14) a mechanic. Robert and Ellen settled at New Houses, Esh where daughter Dorothy Jane was born in 1887, Beatrice 1888 and William in 1892. Ten years later they had taken in Ellen’s widowed mother Dorothy Bewick (79) and had moved to 27, South Street, Esh, transferring to No.2 Tilery House, Hamsteels Colliery, Quebec, by 1911. Robert Fenwick was still employed as a blacksmith and William now 19 years of age was a blacksmith’s striker.
William Fenwick was one of the first to enlist at Hamsteels, County Durham, assigned as Private 1685 Durham Light Infantry, he joined his regiment and posted to the 1st/8th Battalion which formed 4 companies. The new recruits trained at Boldon, Ravensworth and Newcastle-upon-Tyne over the following months for service overseas. Their training complete the battalion departed from Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station bound for France, April 19th 1915, arriving the following day at Boulogne. Without any nursery training they were rushed to the Ypres salient, Belgium, as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, engaged during the Second Battle of Ypres. They remained on the salient until August 1916 in the trenches at Armentieres and Kemmel under constant shell and sniper fire. During September 1916 they moved south to the Somme and suffered heavy casualties at Le Sars and at the Butte de Warlencourt, November 5th 1916, during the last attack loosing 150 men killed or wounded. Having moved to France during the spring of 1917 they fought at the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 participating during the major attack at Cherisy before returning to Belgium where they saw action during the closing stages of the Third Battle of Ypres (July 1st-November 30th 1917) and spent the rest of winter in and out of the mud filled trenches of the salient. When the Germans attacked again on the Somme, March 21st 1918 they were rushed to the new front along with the 50th Division but remained in reserve and was soon in retreat along with the rest of the division. Fighting on the river Lys reduced their numbers until the 1/8th Durham Light Infantry was destroyed in fighting during May 1918 on the river Aisne. This was the battalions final battle, in June 1918 the remaining soldiers were sent to other battalions and the 1st/8th D.L.I. was disbanded in France, November 6th 1918.
Unfortunately, William's service record has not been found, it is therefore impossible to know his exact movements after June 1918. During his time with the Durham Light Infantry he rose through the ranks from Private 1685 to Sergeant 320056. Declared as, "dead" October 7th 1918, Sergeant 320056 William Fenwick Durham Light Infantry is at rest within Duisans Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave VII. B. 37. The cemetery during Autumn 1918 was used by the 23rd (BEF), 1st and 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Stations. The entry, “dead” indicates he died on active service, his body was brought in from the battlefield after he was deceased.
His mother Ellen of 2, Tilery House, Hamsteels Colliery, Quebec, County Durham, received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Sergeant William Fenwick was 26 years of age and single.
It would seem the demise of Robert Fenwick preceded that of his son, his mother Ellen Fenwick nee Bewick died aged 55 years in 1920, registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Fenwick is remembered at Quebec on Q2.05
He cannot be found in the DLI Book of Remembrance but is remembered in Battalion History page 245
