William Potts
Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Potts was born at Windy Nook, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 7 children of whom only 6 survived, he was the youngest of 2 sons and had 1 elder and 3 younger sisters. His father James Potts of Felling, Gateshead, born 1862 and mother Ann Bell born 1864 at Heworth were married in the district of Gateshead during the 2nd quarter (April/May/June)1884. Their son John was born later that same year, followed by Elizabeth in 1887 and William in 1891 whilst they were living at 6, Stone Street, Windy Nook, where James was employed as a coal miner. Ten years later their family had grown with the addition of 3 daughters Ann Boiston Potts, born 1894, Mary Bell Potts 1897 and May 1902. Now living at Sandmill Hill, James, working as a hewer, had been joined by John at the colliery working below ground as a putter.
Tragically Ann Potts nee Bell died aged 43 years in 1907, by 1911 the entire family was living in 3 rooms at 5, Union Street, Windy Nook, William now 20-years was working as a freestone quarryman.
During 1911 William had transferred to Boldon Colliery, district of South Shields, it was here that he married at the parish church, February 24th 1912, Mary Ann Salkeld, born at Shiremoor, district of Gateshead, County Durham, January 26th 1893, the eldest daughter of William and Isabella Salkeld both originally of Low Fell, Gateshead.
When war was declared with Germany in 1914 after the formation of the 16th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers the surplus of volunteers willing to serve were formed into the 18th and 19th ‘Pals’ Battalions. Having enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, William was assigned, October 14th 1914, to the newly formed 18th (Service) Battalion as Private 487, “B” Coy, 7th Platoon. Taken over by the War Office they converted to the 1st Tyneside Pioneers, February 8th 1915 and joined the 34th Division in July at Kirkby Malzeard. Further training took place at Ripon and Salisbury Plain before the division landed at Le Havre, July 8th 1916.
The Pioneers were deployed digging new and repairing old trenches as well as maintaining the lines of communication but were called upon to fight as infantry in the front line as and when needed. The men of the 18th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were on the Somme in 1916.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal 18/487 William Potts died September 8th 1916, having been wounded in the trenches near Contalmaison that offered no protection against constant heavy artillery fire by the enemy. He is interred in Contalmaison Chateaux Cemetery, 6 kilometres from Albert in France, grave II. A. 3.
Prior to his departure for the front his wife Mary Ann had given birth to a daughter during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar)1916, whom they named Lily. She received a pension for herself and their child and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William was remembered on the memorial plaque at Heworth Colliery, at Felling School and I also applied in 2014 for his inclusion in the supplementary list of the Gateshead Roll of Honour, this was accepted November 2014.
Mary Ann widowed with young Lily to support re-married during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1917 in the district of Gateshead to widower John William Cuthbertson, 25 years her senior, born December 31st 1868, who had 5 children of his own. Together they had a further 8 children Joseph (Joe), August 31st 1918, Winifred, February 14th 1920, Elizabeth 1921, Constance 1923, Stanley, October 22nd 1925, John William Jnr, May 23rd 1928, Jean, May 1st 1930 and Margaret, September 2nd 1933.
In 1939 they and their 4 younger children, who were scholars, were living at 5, Rolandson Crescent, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. Despite his age of 68 years, John William was employed as a datal colliery worker below ground as a hewer.
Mary Ann Cuthbertson-Potts nee Salkeld died in the district of Gateshead, County Durham, in 1967 aged 74 years. Her death was preceded by that of her second husband John William Cuthbertson, of 34A Pattison Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, September 30th 1958, probate November 24th 1958, effects in the sum of 441 pounds 1 shilling 1 pence to spinster Margaret Cuthbertson, (daughter).
The father of Lance Corporal William Potts, James Potts, may have died in 1925, aged 63 years, registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Potts is remembered in Felling on F32.23, at Heworth on H92.04 and H92.07, in Gateshead on G39.123 and in the Battalion History NUT075 page 124
