Photo: Geordie at War Project
Photo: Geordie at War Project
Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Ternent was born at Gateshead, County Durham and baptised in the Parish of St. James, March 25th 1888, one of seven children, he was the youngest of 3 sons and 4 daughters. His father John Ternent Snr native of Alnwick, Northumberland married in 1871, at Gateshead, a local girl, Elizabeth Bell, both were born in 1849. John Snr was a butcher, in 1881 he and his family were living at 3, Penshaw Street, Gateshead. In later years they moved to 336, Sunderland Road, he now worked as a carter at a timber merchants, two of his daughter still living at home, Catherine Annie (39) and Emmeline (29) were working for their own account running a bakers and confectioners John Jnr (23) was a clerk. Elizabeth Ternent nee Bell died at Gateshead, aged 64 years, January 16th 1914 and was interred at Gateshead East Cemetery, Cemetery Road.
June 1st 1914 John Ternent married at Holy Trinity Church, Ethel Harris, born March 3rd 1888 at Shildon, County Durham. On the outbreak of war John enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, September 11th 1914, for a period of 3 years or the duration of war, assigned as Private 496 to the Northumberland Fusiliers and was later embodied and transferred to ‘B’ Company 16th Battalion. The 16th was a Pals Battalion, they served with the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division and began training near home then moved in May 1915 to concentrate in Shropshire at Prees Heath. The camp was found to be too wet for training and the Division moved to Wensley and Richmond in Yorkshire, using the firing ranges at Strenshall, in August 1915 moving for final training and firing practice to Codford on Salisbury Plain. They departed to France, November 22nd 1915. In 1916 they were in action during the Battles of the Somme , July 1st-13th at the Battle of Albert followed by the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th.
Private 16/496 John Ternent was killed in action, July 14th 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, commemorating servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918, who have no known grave. He was 28 years old.His widow Ethel had given birth to a son prior to his departure for the Western Front, a son, Norman, born May 9th 1915 at White House, Felling. She received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and Norman along with his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 88, Bewick Street, Gateshead, County Durham.
Ethel Ternent nee Harris did not remarry, she died in 1980 aged 92 years. Norman Ternent married Elsie Bennett at Gateshead in 1939 just prior to the commencement of WW2. Their daughter Patricia A. Ternent was born at Gateshead in 1946. Norman died in 1988 aged 73 years.
John Ternent Snr died aged 72 years, December 24th 1920.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
In Gateshead East Cemetery are two family headstones, the first one of which reads:
In
Loving Memory of
Elizabeth
dearly beloved wife of
John Ternent
who fell asleep Jan. 16th 1914
aged 64 years.
Also the above
John Ternent
extered into rest Dec. 24th 1920
aged 72 years.
Also of their youngest son
Pte. John Ternent 16th N.F.
who was killed in action in France
July 14th 1916, aged 28 years.
Also their eldest daughter
Catherine Anne
died May 2nd 1947, aged 75 years.
Also Emmeline
daughter of John and Elizabeth,
died July 27th 1970 aged 89 years.
The second headstone reads:
In loving memory of
Pte. John Ternent 16 N.F.
dearly beloved husband of
Ethel Ternent
and youngest son of
John and the late
Elizabeth Ternent,
killed in action
in France July 14th 1916
aged 28 years.
John Ternent is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004 G39.025 G39.049 and G39.091 and in the Battalion History page 120
