Heslop’s Local Advertiser 18/08/1916
Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Thompson, known as George, was the only son of James Thompson born at Burnley in 1854 and Alice, surname unknown, native of Manchester born 1864, who had a daughter from her previous marriage by the name of Nellie. George was born in 1885, he had an only sister Annie born 1893 also at Burnley, Lancashire. His father was a cotton loom over-looker, at the age of 17 George too worked at the mill as a cotton weaver, the family was living at 45, Fraser Street, in 1901.
George’s father died aged 65 years in 1912, his mother Alice remained in Lancashire at 213, Church Street, Westhaugaton (address as of 1920) whilst George William migrated to the north east settling at Felling, Gateshead where he was married at the Registry Office in 1911 to Mary Slowther born 1887 at Washington, County Durham and with whom he had a daughter Alice born July 21st 1911 at Gateshead.
George Thompson left his employment as a miner to enlist at Felling, October 22nd 1914, assigned as Private 20945 to the Durham Light Infantry, he joined them at their barracks in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. September 16th 1914 the volunteers left Newcastle for Bullswater camp near Pirbright in Surrey. They were divided into the 12th and 13th Battalion D.L.I. and the 10th and 11th Battalion N.F.Training was slow as the recruits were wearing their own clothes and did not have rifles, eventually they were issued with blue serge uniforms in late October 1914 and obsolete rifles.
Bad weather in November made Bullswater camp unsuitable, 12th and 13th Battalion D.L.I. were moved to billets at Malplaquet barracks, Aldershot and finally to Bramshot in Hampshire where in February 1915 they were given khaki uniforms and leather equipment. After intensive training they were ready for overseas service by July 1916.
Private George Thompson departed for the Western Front August 24th 1915 attached to the 12th Battalion, 68th Brigade, 23rd Division and within days was sent into the trenches, however, his Battalion was spared the disastrous Battle of Loos and spent the rest of 1915 and early 1916 in the trenches as Armentieres and Souchez.
June 1916 the 23rd Division was moved south to the Somme where it entered the fighting at La Boisselle July 7th 1917, a phase of the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th, before being withdrawn in reserve but continuing to be involved in day to day trench warfare.
Private 20945 George Thompson Durham Light Infantry was killed in action July 17th 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 30 years old.
His widow Mary received all monies due to him, a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and their daughter Alice as of February 12th 1917 and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 15, Buller Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
The CWGC have in error recorded their address as Fuller Street.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 18/08/1916 carries a notice which reads:
“Private George Thompson, D.L.I., killed in action on 17th July, aged 31 years. Husband of Mary Thompson, 18 Buller Street, Felling.”
