Heslop's Local Advertiser
Woods Cemetery
Heworth Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Carmichael was born at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham in 1892, the eldest child and one of 10 children, 4 sons and 6 daughters. His father Edward Carmichael born June 7th 1872, a coal miner and mother Elizabeth Willison born 1874, both natives of Heworth were married during the 1st quarter of 1893 and living at 2, George Street, Heworth Lane in 1911. Thomas (19) along with his father was the only breadwinner, he was employed as a brick maker whilst his father worked as a shifter at the colliery. During the 3rd quarter of 1914 (Jul/Aug/Sep) Thomas married Margaret Barker born October 5th 1895 and who gave birth to a son Edward Carmichael in December 1914.
On the outbreak of war both father and son enlisted. Edward Carmichael who had previously served with the 3rd Battalion Special Reserve Northumberland Fusiliers joined at Felling, August 29th 1914 and was assigned, aged 42 years, as Private 16031 to the newly formed 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. By November they were in huts at Pirbright near Aldershot and although they had no uniforms and were using obsolete rifles, they underwent initial training. February 20th 1915 he was deemed to be medically unfit and discharged, receiving the sum of 10 pounds National Reservist Bounty by the Regimental Paymaster at York.
Thomas Carmichael enlisted and was assigned to the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 1269. The 1st/9th Battalion, left Newcastle railway station for France on April 19th 1915. Within days, without any “nursery” training they were fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres, suffering casualties from shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges. As part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, the 1st/9th Battalion served until August 1916 in the trenches of the Ypres Salient and Armentieres.
Having risen through the ranks Lance Corporal 1269 Thomas Carmichael Durham Light Infantry was killed in action March 24th 1916 and interred at Woods Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave I. B. 33.
His widow Margaret received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their child and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 2 Holly Hill, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Margaret remarried in 1918, John E Cranston and with whom she had a daughter Elsie. Margaret Cranston-Carmichael nee Barker died in 1994 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne aged 98 years.
Thomas’s father Edward Carmichael died aged 74 years, June 25th 1946, his mother Margaret, February 20th 1965 aged 91 years, both registered in the district of Gateshead.
In St Mary's Churchyard is a flower block which reads:-
Also dear son
Thomas
Carmichael
9th D.L.I. Killed
Mar. 24th 1916
Aged 24 years
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 22/4/1916:
"Acting Sergeant Thomas Carmichael (Pinkey), killed in action in France on March 24th. Husband of Margaret Carmichael (nee Barker) of 2 Holly Hill, Felling. "
Thomas Carmichael is remembered at Felling on F32.22 and at Heworth on H92.03
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 58
