Medal card
Northumberland Fusiliers Badge
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
John Thomas Dodds was born in 1882 at Castle Eden Colliery, Easington County Durham. His parents were Robert John Dodds from Easington and Sarah Ann Tait from Cassop in the same county.
In 1891, John’s family lived at 15, George Street, Castle Eden Colliery where his father was coal miner. John was 8 years old and had two sisters - Margaret aged 4 and Jane aged 2.
The 1901 Census shows John, aged 18, employed as grocer’s assistant, single and living with his parents at Haswell. His father at this time was employed in the coal mines on the surface as a checkweighman. John’s siblings in the household included Margaret 14, Jane 11, Robert 7, George 6 and Emily aged 3.
John married Francis Jane Holmes from Lemington, Northumberland in 1910.
By 1911, John and his family, which included a son Thomas, lived in the house of his parents at Front Street, Sherburn Hill.
Military records confirm John was born in Castle Eden and enlisted at Newcastle on-Tyne. John’s Pension Index Card shows he was in the Newfoundland Regiment for some reason (could be a mistake). Only his wife Frances Jane Dodds appears on this document. CWGC documents show John was the husband of Frances Jane Dodds, Front Street Sherburn Hill County Durham.
In the John Sheen book Tyneside Irish John is shown to be living at Commercial Cottage, Sherburn Hill, prior to enlisting. Additionally this book shows John’s brother, Robert Dodds, was in the Tyneside Irish (26th Battalion) and another brother, George Dodds, was killed in action serving with the Durham Light Infantry. John’s records show he was originally in the 24th Battalion and also served with the 26th, 8th and 2nd Battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers.
John Thomas Dodds is remembered in Sherburn Hill on S146.01 and S146.02 and at Shadforth on S120.01
