Willington Cemetery

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Samuel John L. Wherry was born December 13th 1876, one of 5 known children he was the youngest of 3 sons and had one elder and one younger sister. His father William Wherry was born in 1844 at St. Austell, Cornwall, he married Elizabeth Rosevear, known as Bessie in 1878, she was 6 years his senior having been born at St. Helen, Cornwall in 1838. Their first child Mathilda was born at Illogan in Cornwall, in 1868 as was her brother Philip James in 1870, however William and his family had migrated to the north east by between 1870 and 1874 to Willington, County Durham. George William Sampson Wherry was born there on 1874 as was Samuel John L Wherry and his younger sister Mary Elizabeth in 1878. William was employed as a coal miner, in 1881 they were living at 14, Railway Terrace, Willington, their children were scholars however by 1891 he had been joined at the colliery by his 3 sons, Samuel was only 13 years of age.

At the age of 19 Samuel John L Wherry enlisted November 3rd 1894 in the Army assigned as Private 4353 to the Northumberland Fusiliers for a period of limited service. He joined the Regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, November 5th and remained at the Depot until being posted to the 1st Battalion January 18th 1895 then on to the 2nd Battalion October 15th 1895. He departed to South Africa, January 17th 1898 and served during the 2nd Boer War until November 17th 1902 when he was discharged to the Army Reserve.

During the 2nd quarter of 1910 Samuel was married in the district of Durham to Mary Ann Keeble, native of Cornsay born 1887, their daughter Elsie was born at Kimblesworth, County Durham, September 28th 1910. In 1911 they were living at 3, Woodland Terrace, Nettlesworth, near Kimblesworth where Samuel was employed as a coal miner.

On the outbreak of WW1 he was 36 years old and enlisted at Bishop Auckland where he was assigned to his old Regiment, the Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 23651, 13th (Service) Battalion part of Kitchener’s Third New Army attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st division. The Division concentrated near Tring where they trained at Halton Park before moving into billets for the winter at Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, High Wycombe and Maidenhead. In May 1915 the infantry moved back to Halton Park, then on to Whitley Camp, August 9th, for final training, departing to France during the first week of September 1915. They were marched across France, their first experience of action was as part of the British attack at Loos, September 26th 1915, where they suffered heavy casualties. In 1916 they were in action on the Somme including the Battle of Albert July 1st-13th, Battle of Morval, September 25th to 28th where the Division captured Geudecourt. In 1917 they were in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the Arras Offensive. August 1917 they joined the 12th Battalion to form the 12th/13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.

Private Wherry 23651 Northumberland Fusiliers was either wounded, contracted a disease or was suffering from ill health and repatriated to England, exact date unknown. He died August 20th 1917 at Alnwick Military Convalescent Hospital aged 42 years. At the request of his family the Army organised that his body be transported to Willington, although his family would have paid for this. He was interred at Willington Cemetery with full military honours.

His widow Mary Ann received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at her home address of 4 Flagg Road, Byers Green, Spennymoor, County Durham. Mary Ann commissioned at a cost of 3 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Thy Will Be Done”.

During the 3rd quarter 1919 she remarried in the district of Bishop Auckland, County Durham to James W. Witherell. Samuel and Mary’s daughter Elsie married at Bishop Auckland in 1929 to William S. Morgan with whom she had 3 children, Joan born 1931, Eva in 1933 and Alma in 1935. Elsie Morgan nee Wherry died in 1979, registered in County Durham, aged 69 years.

Samuel’s father William Wherry died October 31st 1934 at Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales aged 90 years, his mother Elizabeth (Bessie) Wherry nee Rosevear aged 98 years, September 25th 1936 having returned to Devon.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Samuel Wherry is remembered at Byers Green on B157.01 and B157.02

The CWGC entry for Private Wherry