Thomas Devenish, was the 4th 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, December 14th 1889. 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.

Thomas was married August 2nd 1913 at Lanchester Registry Office to Jane Hannah Whitfield, who was born January 8th 1890 at Hamsteels, County Durham, she gave birth to their daughter Doris May, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1914. They settled at 6, Office Street, Hamsteels, where Thomas was employed as a coal miner.

After war was declared with Germany he left his employment and enlisted at Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, December 21st 1914, and posted to the newly formed 23rd (4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Having completed their initial training at Newcastle they transferred to Alnwick Camp in the grounds of Alnwick castle early May 1915. They joined the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division concentrating near Ripon later that month, late August moved to Salisbury Plain for final training and whilst he was there Private 942 was transferred, September 7th 1915 to the Army Cyclist Corps of the 34th Division as Private 5406. The cyclist corps were deployed to the coastal defences and served out their time in the United Kingdom but also provided men for the draft.

Private Devenish was again transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers, January 10th 1916 and departed with the 24th Battalion, to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, January 16th 1916 as did his brothers Private John Devenish 24th Battalion and Private Arthur Devenish 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. As part of the 34th Division the battalions were in training for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. Whilst on active service he and his brothers received news of their mother Margaret Devenish nee Davey’s demise, May 18th 1916, aged 54 years. She was interred at St John the Baptist Churchyard, Hamsteels, County Durham.

At 7:30 a.m. July 1st 1916 at the opening Battles of the Somme the 24th Battalion N.F. engaged the enemy during the Battle of Albert which included the capture of Scotts and Sausage Redoubts. Private Thomas Devenish took a gunshot wound to the knee and was evacuated back through the lines by the Field Ambulance to the hospital centre at Rouen, returning to England, July 6th 1916, arriving at the U.K. Depot July 7th. He would have been made aware whilst in hospital that his brother John had been killed in action July 1st and that Arthur had also been wounded but luckily survived.

Once recovered he was transferred as Private 9802 to the 27th Highland Light Infantry and then the 29th Middlesex Regiment, service number 77093 but was not sent back to the front as his knee was permanently damaged.

Thomas made an application February 6th 1917 to be placed on the Reserve and return to civilian life. After a thorough examination by the Medical Board at Hounslow it was decided he be posted to the Reserve, Class P then Class W, his services being judged to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment. The Army made an application on his behalf to the manager of Cornsay Colliery while Private Devenish was with the 29th Middlesex Regiment at Thetford in Norfolk. They requested verification if they were willing to re-employ him, their response was affirmative, “will be very pleased to re-employ this man”. He was issued with a railway travel warrant and made his way back to the Newcastle Depot in order that he might return to his home at 6, Office Street, Hamsteels and his employment at Cornsay Colliery having been issued with Silver War Badge 121945. Awards; British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Thomas’s father Charles William Hull Devenish died in 1926, aged 69 years, in the district of Lanchester.

Their daughter Doris May Devenish married in 1935 in the district of Durham to Arthur Pearce born December 3rd 1912. Her parents were living at 74, Littleburn Colliery, Brandon and Byshottle, County Durham, in 1939, Thomas supported his wife employed as a stone worker/coal miner below ground.

Thomas Devenish died in 1962 aged 72 years, Jane Hannah Devenish nee Whitfield aged 81 years in 1971, both registered at Durham Central.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Thomas Devenish is not remembered on a local war Memorial.