Duhallow Cemetery
Duhallow Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Charlton Jnr, born at Gateshead, County Durham, in 1893, was the only son of Thomas Charlton also of Gateshead, born November 18th 1864 and Elizabeth Jane Smith, born November 9th 1862 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Newly married in 1891 they were living at 164 & 165 Redheugh Road, Gateshead, Thomas Snr was employed as an iron moulder. Ten year later they had moved to 11, St. Cuthbert’s Terrace, his employment was unchanged and they now had a daughter Elizabeth Eleanor (4), to increment the family income they had taken in a boarder, grocer’s assistant, Percy Smith. Thomas Snr by 1911 was working as an assurance agent, Thomas Jnr (18) was a railway clerk and Elizabeth a draper’s assistant, they had taken into their home at 16, Clairemont North Avenue, Gateshead, Elizabeth’s widowed mother, Elizabeth Smith.
When war was declared in August 1914 Thomas was one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, assigned as Private 1070 to the 18th (1st Tyneside) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers which converted to a Pioneer Battalion, February 8th 1915, joining the 34th Division. The pioneers trained at Ripon and Salisbury Plain for active service overseas, departing to France, January 16th 1916, disembarking at Le Havre, serving in France and Belgium.
Private Charlton during his service was posted from the 18th to the 21st (2nd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 34th Division, both of whom saw action during the Battles of the Somme in 1916 at the opening Battle of Albert at La Boisselle. He was transferred for a time as Private 246232 to the Royal Engineers, this may well have been in the run up to the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 when extensive tunnelling took place in that sector, before returning to the 18th Battalion N.F. which was engaged on the Ypres salient in Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917.
Private 18/1070 Thomas Charlton was killed in action, September 27th 1917, originally buried by his comrades on the battlefield, map reference B.23.c.5.1. marked with a cross bearing his military details. His remains were exhumed, along with those of 8 others buried at the same location, and brought into Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, September 2nd 1919, where they were reburied with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain. He is at rest grave VII. F. 15., at the time of his demise he was 25 years of age and single.
His father received all monies due to him along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He commissioned at a cost of 15 shillings 2 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Only Son Of Thomas & Elizabeth Charlton 8 Lincoln St., Gateshead.”
In 1939 his parents were living at Hillcrest, 12 Musgrave Road, Low Fell, Gateshead, County Durham. His father is listed as a retired insurance agent, his mother as a housewife.
Thomas Charlton Snr died, April 13th 1941, aged 76 years, leaving effects in the sum of 947 pounds 4 shillings 6 pence to his widow Elizabeth Jane and John William Smith, co-operative society cashier. Elizabeth Jane Charlton nee Smith died aged 93 years, March 9th 1956, resident at 29, Glenbrooke Terrace, Low Fell, Gateshead. Effects in the sun of 2113 pounds 10 shillings 3 pence were assigned to George Edward Smith retired pattern-maker. Details as regards Elizabeth Eleanor Charlton, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Charlton is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004 and G39.051
