William Elliott
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Elliott was born 1883 at Felling, near Gateshead, County Durham, the only son and one of 3 known children born to Thomas Elliott Snr native of Pelton Fell and his wife Mary Jane Stephenson, (known as May,) of Sheriff Hill, Gateshead both of whom were born in 1863 and married April 15th 1883 at the parish church, Gateshead Fell, May gave birth to daughter Margaret in 1886 but unfortunately she died in 1889 aged only 26 years when Thomas Jnr was only 6 years old. Thomas Snr remarried in 1891 Mary Nixon of Gateshead and with whom he had a daughter Isabella in 1891 whilst living at Sodhouse Bank, Gateshead, now known as Sheriff’s Highway. By 1901 they had moved to Holly Hill, Heworth where both father and son worked below ground at the colliery.
Thomas Elliott Jnr married at Gateshead in 1906 Mary Ann Jessop born 1885 at Felling. She gave birth to their son Thomas William in 1908 and daughter Winfred in 1909. Living at 9, Stranton Street, Felling, Thomas was still working as a hewer at the colliery. On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Felling to be assigned to the Royal Field Artillery, number 149570, having risen through the ranks as Serjeant 485 he was transferred to the 30th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. August 15th 1918 he joined the 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers until August 28th when he was again transferred to the 17th Royal Fusiliers as GS/93460. During 1918 the 17th Battalion were transferred to the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division and fought on the Somme during the Battle of the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of the Selle and the Division was selected to advance into Germany and formed part of the Occupation Force after Armistice.
At some point Thomas Elliott was awarded the Military Medal.
Serjeant GS/93460 Thomas William Elliott 17th Royal Fusiliers sustained and died of wounds, November 9th 1918 at the No.8 General Hospital, Bois-Guillaume, housed in a large country house and grounds, Seine-Maritime, France, and was interred grave G. 9B, Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery Extension. He was 36 years old, his death came 2 days before the declaration of the Armistice, November 11th 1918.
His widow Mary Ann received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their 3 children, having given birth to their third child Richard Jessop Elliott, May 6th 1919, along with his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Military Medal for bravery in battle on land, established as of March 25th 1916, sent to her at 18, Sunbeam Terrace, Old Fold, Gateshead, County Durham. She paid for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Sleep On Dear Husband-Take Your Rest-They Miss You Most-Who Loved You Best.”
Their daughter Winifred Elliott never married, she died aged 75 years in 1984, Richard Jessop Elliott served during WW2 as Private 4453562 Durham Light Infantry and was taken prisoner of war, interred as POW 13471 Stalag XX-A, Torun, Poland, he died aged 81 in 2000, both deaths registered in the district of Gateshead, details of Thomas William born 1908 unknown.
Mary Ann Elliott remarried in 1924 at Gateshead William Clair and with whom she had a further 3 children, William Clair, November 5th 1924-2003, Doris Conner nee Clair, December 27th 1927-2007 and Maureen Clair born 1936. Mary Ann Clair-Elliott nee Jessop died at Gateshead in 1964 aged 79 years.
Thomas William Elliott Snr living in 1918 at 6, Second Street, Wardley Colliery, County Durham died at Gateshead, aged 67 years in 1930.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Elliott is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Windy Nook on W95.02
