Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Thompson was born in about 1886 at Usworth, near Washington, County Durham, the youngest of 2 sons, born to John George and Jane Thompson. Edward’s father was born in the district of Sunderland, his mother at Winlaton near Gateshead, County Durham in 1856 and 1955 respectively. John George was employed as a coal miner, in 1891 he and his family were living at Waggon Row, Usworth. It would seem both he and his wife had died by 1901 as Edward (17) and brother Robert (19) had been taken in by their father’s sister Mary Mason and were living with their uncle and aunt and their 8 children at 26, Waggon Way. Their uncle Robert was a hewer at the colliery and both Edward and Robert were also employed there as putters. Only Edward was still living with them by 1911, employed as a hewer, his uncle now owned and ran for his own account The Black Bush Inn, Washington Village.
At the time of his enlistment records state Edward was living at Felling although he enlisted at Washington, September 22nd 1914. He underwent training and was assigned as Private GS20288 Infantry and sent to France, September 11th 1915 as part of the British Expeditionary Force joining the Durham Light infantry in the field. He was wounded, taken to the Base Depot, October 3rd 1915 and evacuated back to England. Once recovered, December 7th 1915 he was posted to the 16th Battalion one of Kitchener’s New Army Battalions which was initially assigned to the coastal defences and not intended as a training battalion for overseas service until September 1915 when it had been moved to Penkridge Bank Camp near Rugby in Staffordshire. Private Thompson joined the Battalion at their camp and underwent re-training before being posted once again to the Western Front where he joined the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, March 3rd 1916, in the trenches at Armentieres, France. The 13th Battalion attached to the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division, in late June moved south to the Somme where it entered the fighting July 7th 1916 at La Boisselle and intense fighting in late July and early August at Munster Alley, east of Pozieres. The Battalion returned to Armentieres where it spent the rest of August 1916 until participating during the Battle of Moral September 25th-28th and the Battle of Le Transloy October 1st-18th October 1916.
Private 20288 Edward Thompson Durham Light Infantry was wounded in action, he died of wounds sustained, October 1st 1916 and interred at Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme France, grave I. W. 30. The cemetery was begun by the 51st Highland Division and carried on by the 18th and other Divisions in the front line during the actions on the Somme. Private Thompson was 30 years old and single.
His aunt Mrs Mary Mason nee Thompson as his sole legitimate beneficiary received all monies due to him along with his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Thompson is possibly listed on on F32.23 but clarification would be useful.
