Heslop's Local Advertiser
Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John (Thomas) Bainbridge was born 1888 at West Hartlepool, County Durham, one of 11 children, 4 sons and 7 daughters born to William Bainbridge native of Yarm, Yorkshire born in 1849 and his wife Margaret Robson born 1851 at West Hartlepool where they were married in 1872. They lost four daughters, Dorothy, Alice, Jane and Margaret at a tender age, John was their youngest son. William Snr was a bricklayer by trade, in 1891 the family were living at 32 Bailey Street, Stranton, William Jnr (18) was employed as a sawyer at the mill, the other children were scholars. Ten years later his father had his own bricklaying business supported by William Jnr (28) and James (22), it was now Joseph (21) who worked at the mill. It was not until 1911 whilst living at 18 Waldron Street, West Hartlepool that John Thomas now 24 years was employed as a docker.
On the outbreak of war John Thomas Bainbridge was living at Low Heworth, County Durham, he enlisted in 1914 at Gateshead and was assigned as Private 4099 Durham Light Infantry. The main body of men left Newcastle railway station for France April 19th 1915. Within days, they were fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres, suffering casualties from shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges. Private Bainbridge prior to his departure for the front in 1916 married Eleanor Keith. He joined the 1st/9th Battalion D. L. I. in the field as part of the 151st Brigade of 50th (Northumbrian) Division. The 1st/9th served until August 1916 in the trenches of the Ypres Salient and Armentieres, then moved south to join the Somme fighting. In September and October, the battalion attacked towards the Starfish Line, north of High Wood, and the Flers Line at Eaucort l’Abbaye.
Private 9/4099 John (Thomas) Bainbridge Durham Light Infantry was killed in action September 16th 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, pier and face 14A & 15C, which commemorates servicemen from the British Empire who died on the Somme 1915-1918 and who have no known grave. He was 28 years old.
His widow Eleanor received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 2 St. Mary’s Terrace, Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was announced in Heslop's Weekly Advertiser 22/12/1916:
Pte. J. Bainbridge, D.L.I., killed in action on Sept. 16th, aged 28 years. Husband of Eleanor Bainbridge of 2, St.Mary's Terrace, Heworth, late of Felling.
John Thomas Bainbridge is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
