Tyne Cot Memorial
Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
James Hetherington was born at Heworth in 1892. His parents were John, a coal hewer and Mary Ann nee Fisher. The couple went onto have 8 children but unfortunately 2 died. His surviving siblings were Robert, George, Arthur, Septimus and Frank.The 1901 census shows the family living at 9 Eslington Terrace, Lamesley then by 1911 they had moved to 77 Windy Nook Road Sheriff Hill.
All the men of the family (except the 2 youngest Septimus and Frank) worked at various jobs in the pit. By this time the family were also able to afford 2 servants, Margaret and Kate, to work for them. The 2 girls were nieces.
James, usually known as Jimmy, attested for service 4 September 1914 then joined up at Felling. He was 22 years old. The records show him to be 5’6” tall with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was Church of England.
He originally served with 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry but later served with 12th Battalion. He was posted to France but soon after arrival he developed both medical and disciplinary problems.Jimmy’s health caused concern during his service having several nasty conditions. He developed scabies on 13 November 1915 so was sent to the Divisional Rest Station for a couple of days going back to duty on 15 November.
A few months later, 30 March 1916, he was sent to 18th Casualty Clearing station at Lapugny suffering from Pyrexia which is a fever associated with the immune system. Soon afterward he was suspected of having enteric disease ie a fever of the nervous system for which he was treated at the General hospital in Rouen.
On 15 May 1916 he was transferred back to England.
Although the records are extremely difficult to read it seems he was once again in Britain this time at University Hospital Southampton ie for 10 days between 24 May 1916 until 3 June 1916. The period from that date until 22 June was spent convalescing.
His medical records also show another bout of illness that surfaced 29 March 1916. On 25th March Jimmy was treated at 25th Stationary at Rouen. His notes state he was being treated for “bacteriological evidence indicates infection with B typhus.” He was sent home to convalesce from “chicken shit” (this is a derogatory term indicating lack of courage) from 10 May. He had an ordinary diet after admission and his temperature remained normal throughout his stay. The test that followed proved that Jimmy was negative for typhoid para (which is a milder form of typhoid fever) and also free from dysentery organisms. The rest of his report is not readable.
Eventually he was sent back to his battalion although his service record is very difficult to read but it seems he had several offences of being absent from duty. His first offence for absence is illegible but the second occurrence shows him absent from 24 September 1916 until 13 December 1916. He was taken into civilian custody 14/15 December whilst waiting trial due 4 January 1917.
At the District Court Martial he was accused of deserting and losing his clothing. He was found guilty on both charges and sentenced to 1-year detention.
He has obviously rejoined his battalion at some point after that as he was killed at Passchendaele on 15 October 1917.
Although he never married, a Miss Isa Thompson, 19 Boundary Street Wrekenton Gateshead, was awarded his pension of 3/-per week. His relationship to her is unclear as she is simply shown on records as ‘allottee’.
James Hetherington is remembered at Gateshead Fell G39.064 and at Gateshead inG39.123
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 285
