Hamsteels St. John
In Hamsteels St John's Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:-
In loving memory of
Margaret
The beloved wife of Charles William Hull Devenish
Who died May 18th 1916
In her 54 year
Also Private John Devenish
Son of the above
(Northumberland Fusiliers)
Who was killed in action in France
July 1st 1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Devenish was the 3rd born of 6 surviving brothers and 2 sisters, offspring of Charles William Hull Devenish and Margaret Davey. His father was born at Purleigh in 1858, Margaret in 1862 at Great Falham, both in Essex, where they were married in the district of Maldon in 1876. Charles William Hull Jnr was born in 1882, Harry 1885 and John 1887 at Witham, Thomas at Epping in 1890. In 1891 they were living at Galleywood Road, Chelmsford, Charles was employed as a farmer’s horse-keeper. They remained at Chelmsford for the next 3 years and Margaret gave birth to Arthur in 1892 and Jane 1894. By the time Effie was born in 1896 they had migrated to the north east and settled at Cornsay where George was born in 1899. Charles William Snr was now employed as a coke filler, Charles William Jnr (19) was not employed, Harry (16) and John (13) worked as miners at the colliery and although the remainder of the children, with the exception of George, were of school age, they are not listed as such. The family were living at 160, Chadwick Street, in 1901 and had moved into 4 rooms next door at number 159 by 1911. Still employed as a coke filler he maintained the family with the help of his unmarried sons coal hewer and putter, Thomas (22), Arthur (19) and Effie (15) an apprentice dressmaker. Jane (17) assisted her mother at home, George (12) attended school as did Richard Ray (6) their adopted brother.
John was married in 1910, district of Sunderland, to Jane Hannah (Ann) McKee born at Easington, February 3rd 1890. In 1911 he was working at Seaham Harbour as a coal hewer, they were living at 9, South Railway Street, Seaham Harbour, and had 2 children by 1914, Eliza born 1911 and John J Devenish 1913.
When war was declared with Germany Kitchener formed his New Armies. John Devenish enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in January 1915. He was assigned as Private 183 to the 27th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and posted to the Newcastle Depot. After initial training near home they moved to Ripon in June 1915 where they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. After further training they went on to Salisbury Plain for final training and in late August were in the final stages of preparations to depart to the front. At the time of his departure his wife was pregnant.
He crossed to France, January 1916 as did his brothers Private Thomas Devenish also of the 24th Battalion and Private Arthur Devenish of the 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The 34th Division concentrated near La Crosse, east of St Omer. After a period of familiarisation, they moved to the Somme. Whilst at the front the brothers received news from home that their mother, Margaret Devenish nee Davey had died, May 18th 1916, aged 54 years, and interred at St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Hamsteels.
The opening battle of the Somme Offensive was planned for June 29th but was delayed until July 1st due to bad weather. On the morning of July 1st 1916 at 7:30 a.m. the Battle of Albert began, during which the 34th Division captured Scots and Sausage Redoubts.
Private 183 John Devenish Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from South Africa and Britain who died on the Somme before March 28th 1918 and have no known grave. His brothers Thomas and Arthur were both wounded by gunshot to the legs but were more fortunate than their brother and having served for the duration of the war survived the conflict.
Just prior to the demise of John his wife gave birth to a daughter at Gateshead during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1916, named Sarah Ann Devenish. His widow received his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal and the sum of £1 14s 9d, November 8th 1916.
She remarried at Gateshead during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1917 to local man, Albert Walker, born 1891 and with whom she had a son William D. Walker during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1918. Unfortunately, the child died within 3 months, within a further 3 months Jane Ann Walker-Devenish nee McKee had also died aged 28 years.
Not all the affairs of her late husband had been settled before she died. John’s brothers Charles and Arthur became the legal guardians of Eliza, John Jnr and Sarah Ann receiving from the Army money due to their sister -in-law in the amount of £1 8s 11d each, £2 3s 4d was retained pending an application made by Albert Walker.
Charles William Hull Devenish died in the district of Lanchester in 1926 aged 69 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Devenish is not remembered on a local War Memorial.
