Pauline Priano has submitted the following: -
William Tinmouth Teasdale was born January 26th 1887 in Southwick, Sunderland County Durham, one of 11 surviving children. (1 deceased), 9 boys and 3 girls born to John Wood Teasdale (1850) of Monkwearmouth and Mary Elizabeth Stewart (1855) native of Southwick. His parents were married December 1870 in Sunderland and his father worked as a blacksmith. Later he moved to the shipyards as a riveter along with his three eldest sons. In 1911 John W. Teasdale was working for his own account as a night caller, knocking up the miners for their shift. At the age of twenty, August 5th 1907, William married Emma Jane Mordey born 1883 in Southwick and by 1911 had set up home at Marshalls Yard, Ferryhill working as a stoneman below ground. By this time, they had two daughters Doris (3) and Edna (7 mths), followed by Olive in 1912 and George in 1915.
William Tinmouth Teasdale enlisted in Ferryhill, February 20th 1915, assigned as Private 61 to the Duke of Cambridge Middlesex Regiment, 18th Battalion. This was a Pioneer Regiment (1st Public Works Pioneers) and remained in England undergoing training near Alexandra Palace, going on to Rayleigh and in July moved to Clipstone Camp under the command of the 33rd Division. After final training and firing practice at Salisbury Plain they were ordered to France and landed in Le Harve November 15th 1915 by which time William had rose through the ranks to Quarter Master Sergeant. The 33rd Division was concentrated near Morbecque by November 21st and participated on the Western Front. William was wounded in action January 28th 1916 and taken to the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station at Bethune, an important railway junction and hospital site. He had received a gunshot wound to the elbow and chest. C.Q.M.S. 61 William Tinmouth Teasdale died of his wounds at 8.05 a.m. January 29th 1916 and is interred at Bethune Town Cemetery, grave IV. H. 66, he was 29 years old.
His awards of the 14/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal were sent to his widow along with his possessions to 5, First Cross Row, Chilton Lane, Ferryhill. She was awarded in 1921 a pension of 24/- shillings a week for herself and the four children. Emma Jane Teasdale nee Mordey died September 1962 in County Durham.
Three of his brothers served in 1914-18 – Thomas, Wilson Stuart and Charles Edward (Killed 1916)
William Tinmouth Teasdale is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Ferryhill onF38.02
