Isaac Usher
Photo: Gateshead at War Project
Heslop's Local Advertiser 23/02/1917
In Gateshead Fell St. John's Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
In loving memory of
Thomas
dearly beloved husband of
Elizabeth Ann Usher
who died June 3rd 1912
aged 52 years.
also
Isacc (sic) Steele Usher
Son of the above
Killed in action at Ypres 12th Oct. 1916
Aged 25 years.
also
Elizabeth Ann
Beloved wife of Thomas Usher
Died 27th Oct. 1929 in her 67th year.
also
William son of the above
Died July 18th 1952
also
Dorothy daughter of the above
Died Jan. ?4th 1954.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Isaac Steele Usher was born in 1891 at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 6 children he was the youngest of 2 sons and had 3 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Thomas Usher born 1861 at Durham Road (East), Low Fell, Gateshead married at South Shields in 1882 to Elizabeth Ann Steele, born 1860, native of Wrekenton, Gateshead, in 1862. Thomas supported his family working as a coal miner, in 1891 they were living at 7, Teasdale Square, Felling. Ten years later he was still the only breadwinner and had also taken into his home at Hewitson Terrace his brother in law Isaac Steele, a blacksmith by trade. His son Isaac was educated at Felling High School, however, he was already working by the age of 19, as was his brother William (21) as a putter at the colliery, in 1911 the family occupied four rooms at 12, Springfield Terrace, Felling, Gateshead. His father Thomas Usher died the following year, June 3rd 1912 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
On the outbreak of war Isaac Steele Usher enlisted at Felling, August 22nd 1914 assigned as Private 22745 Durham Light Infantry and the following day at their barracks at Newcastle-upon-Tyne was posted to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion. The main role of the battalion was to defend the County from foreign invasion and to this end they were sent from Newcastle to South Shields as part of the Tyne Defences, however, it also trained recruits for active service.
October 6th 1914 Private Usher was transferred to the 16th Battalion Durham Light infantry also part of the Tyne Defences but not destined to serve overseas. In April 1915 it became a Reserve battalion moving to Darlington and in September to Penkridge Bank Camp near Rugeley, Staffordshire. There the battalion was trained, regularly supplying drafts of troops for active service overseas.
The main body of men of the 14th and 15th Battalions Durham Light Infantry had departed in September 1915 attached to the 21st Division seeing action within weeks at the Battle of Loos where the 14th lost almost 300 men and several officers, the 15th lost over 450 men. Private Usher was part of the draft which departed from England to France, October 8th 1915, as replacements for these losses. he joined his Regiment in the field. November 28th 1915 the 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry joined the 18th Brigade, 6th Division and moved to the Ypres salient in Belgium where they defended Potijze and were subjected to a gas attack near Wieltze. They remained on the salient until August 1916 when they moved south to the Somme, but were not heavily involved.
Private 22745 Isaac Steele Usher Durham Light Infantry was killed during day to day trench warfare October 12th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1916-1918 who have no known grave. He was 25 years old and single.
His mother received a letter dated November 15th 1916, informing her of the death of her son bearing his name and a service number 20522. She immediately sort help from the Reverend of St. Albans Church, Windy Nook who replied on her behalf as follows; “Dear Sirs, ref. 22745. Pte. I. S. Usher 14th D.L.I. The mother of the above soldier has this morning received an intimation from you of the death of her son in action, but the regimental number is different. His number was 20522. Can it be some other man of the same name? You sent the intimation to Mrs E. Usher 12, Springfield Terrace, Felling. Would you kindly write and confirm your notice or explain. Yours faithfully, Theodore H. A. Morris.
Elizabeth Ann’s hopes that her son may still be alive were dashed when it was confirmed there had in fact been an error as regards the regimental number and that her son was dead. Private Usher’s mother 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 12, Springfield Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Elizabeth Ann Usher nee Steele died aged 67 years, October 27th 1929, registered at Gateshead, County Durham.
The Usher family headstone in Gateshead Fell St John's Churchyard (see above) bears an inscription in remembrance of Isaac stating in error that he died in action at Ypres, Belgium, this must have been the last information his family had as to his whereabouts prior to his demise.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop's Local Advertiser 23/02/1917 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
"Private Isaac Steel Usher, D.L.I., killed in action on Oct.12th 1916, aged 25 years. Youngest son of Elizabeth and the late Thomas, 12 Springfield Terrace Felling."
Isaac Steele Usher is remembered Felling on F32.23, in Windy Nook on W95.01, W95.02 and W95.16
He is also remembered in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 282
