NER Magazine
NER Magazine
NER Magazine
Ian Murray has submitted the following:-
Thomas Henry Bell was born on 3rd October 1896 in Lamesley. On the 1901 census he is listed as the adopted son of George and Ann Strong and living at Andrews Houses which were part of Marley Hill Colliery. They were situated near the engine sheds for the Tanfield Railway on the Stanley to Sunniside road.
By 1911, George Strong had died and Thomas was living with his mother Ann at 23, Sunny Terrace, Stanley. Thomas is listed as Thomas Henry Strong and employed as a Colliery Labourer above ground.
Thomas joined the North Eastern Railway on June 30th 1913 as a casual gangman at Annfield Plain but left on March 25th 1914. He returned to the NER on July 20th 1914 but enlisted one month later.
He served as an Able Seaman in the “Drake” Battalion of the Royal Naval Division. According to the CWGC Graves Registration Record, he died of wounds received at Gallipoli on 17th September 1915, aged 19. By this time his mother Ann is recorded as living at Chelsea House, Shield Row, Stanley. The UK Royal Navy and Royal Marines Graves Roll records Thomas as having been buried at sea. However, the North Eastern Railway magazine records that Thomas “is reported to have died in Alexandria Hospital on 16th December 1915 from wounds received in The Dardanelles”.
Thomas is remembered in the Book of Remembrance at St. Andrew’s Church, Stanley S135.04where his death is given as 16th September 1915. This date agrees with that of the CWGC which suggests that the NER magazine report is not accurate.
He is also remembered at York on the North East Railway Memorial
