Heslop's Local Advertiser
Chatby Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Killen was born at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham in 1888, the eldest of 10 children, 5 sons, 3 daughters, 2 gender unknown deceased. His parents were both born to Irish immigrants in 1860, his father James Killen born at Heworth married in 1884 at Gateshead to Mary Donnelly native of Ireland. James was employed as a general labourer, in 1891 he and his wife and 3 children were living at Davidson Street, Felling next door to his 54-year-old widowed sister Winifred, her son and widowed daughter. Later they had moved to 5, Ridley Street where he was a powder-man at the chemical works, Thomas now aged 13 was still a scholar as were his siblings. At the age of 23 Thomas is listed in the 1911 census as an Army Corporal serving with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. His father who had been working as a hewer was unemployed, sister Margaret (20) was a tailoress machinist, brothers James (18), John (16) and Michael (14) were screeners at the colliery, Joseph (8) was a scholar.
Thomas Killen continued to serve with his Regiment and rose to the rank of Serjeant. On the outbreak of war his Regiment was at Lucknow, India, replaced by a territorial unit which took over the garrison they returned to England, December 28th 1914 and were attached to the 87th Brigade, 29th Division. Whilst in training for their programmed departure to France orders changed and they were told to prepare to depart for Gallipoli. Embarked at Avonmouth they sailed for Alexandria March 18th 1915 making a brief stop in Malta. They landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, April 25th 1915 involved in heavy fighting until being evacuated between January 7th-8th 1916 when they returned to Egypt. During the Gallipoli Campaign Serjeant Killen had been nominated as Acting Sergeant Major.
Wounded in the line of duty he was hospitalised at Alexandria, the city as of March 1915 had become a camp and hospital centre for Commonwealth and French troops, “home”, to the 17th, 19th, 21st, 78th and 87th General Hospitals and No.5 Indian Hospital. As of March 1916 troops were withdrawn from Egypt in order to serve in France as reinforcements in preparation for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme, the injured were evacuated from Alexandria aboard hospital ships.
Sergeant 9626 Thomas Killen King’s Own Scottish Borderers died of wounds April 19th 1916 aboard H. C. Kinfauns Castle and was buried at sea. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the names inscribed on the Chatby Memorial within Chatby War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt. He was 28 years old and single.
His mother Mary as sole legitimate beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
James Killen died in the district of Sedgefield, County Durham in 1936 aged 71 years, details of mother unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 26/5/1916:
"Acting-Sergeant-Major T. Killen, 1st K.O.S.B., died from wounds on April 19th, eldest son of James and Mary Killen, 5 Ridley Street, Felling."
He is remembered at Felling on F32.06
