Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Born on 23rd May 1891 Colin Tyrie was one of the nine children, 1 girl and eight boys, (Barbara Jane, James Francis Campbell, William Campbell, John Wallace, Thomas Palmer, Stuart Campbell, Wallace Kerr and Kenneth Campbell) of William Campbell Tyrie from Dundee and his wife Mabel Ann nee Arkless from Whickham. Father William was a well known building contractor in Gateshead and according to probate records when he died in 1899 he left his wife over £17,000 (a 21st century equivalent of just under £2 million).
In 1901 Colin was living at 2 Claremont Park, Gateshead and in 1911 he was an unemployed clerk living at 171 Bewick Road, Gateshead.
It is known that by 1914 Colin had enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who when war was declared in August had been stationed in India. They were recalled and landed at Avonmouth on 10th January 1915 joining the 87th Brigade, 29th Division who were in training at Rugby. In March the Division sailed for Egypt, and then onwards to Gallipoli where they arrived on 25th April 1915. In December Private Tyrie was hospitalised with frostbite and treated on the Hospital Ship Britannic. The Battalion were evacuated to Egypt in January 1916 and then ordered to the Western Front. Arriving in Marseilles on 18th March they entrained for northern France where they saw action at the Somme, Arras and Ypres.
On 5th February 1918 the Battalion was transferred to the 109th Brigade, 39th (Ulster) Division and were in action n the Somme and the Battle of Lys, during the Spring Offensive.
Private Colin Campbell Tyrie was killed whilst out on patrol on 31st May 1918 and is buried in Saint-Souplet British Cemetery, south east of Cambrai.
Recipient of the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal
His brother Stuart also died in WW1.
Colin Campbell Tyrie is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004 page 48
