Loos Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Clennan Thompson was the only son of Joseph Purvis Thompson born 1872 at Morpeth, Northumberland and Jane Clennan born 1877 at Dumpling Hall Farm, Northumberland, married at Morpeth in 1896. They moved to Roseberry Avenue, Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham where Joseph Jnr was born in 1899, his father was employed as a pattern maker. When he was only 2 and a half years old his mother died in June 1902, Joseph Snr remarried in 1907 at Haltwhistle to a local woman Mary Emma Nelson born 1877. In 1911 they were living at 3, The Avenue, Felling, at the time of the census his wife’s sister Margaret Jane Nelson, a confectioner and tobacconist was visiting their home whilst Joseph Thompson Jnr (11) lived with his widowed paternal grandmother Ellen Thompson at 29, Garden Terrace, Earsdon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Joseph prior to the outbreak of war had enlisted as Private 48408 Durham Light Infantry. rose through the ranks and was transferred after war was declared as Corporal 21/1653 to the newly formed 21st (2nd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers raised at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in October 1914. They moved to Alnwick castle for initially training January 29th 1915, joining the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June. Late August they moved to Salisbury Plain to begin final training before departing to France in January 1916 where they concentrated near La Crosse. During his service on the Western Front Corporal Thompson was transferred to the 8th Battalion Trench Mortar Battery Northumberland Fusiliers after it was withdrawn from Gallipoli and its defence of the Suez Canal when it arrived in France June 1916. The battalion saw action in 1916 as reinforcements during the Battles of the Somme, in 1917 at the Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 they returned to the battlefields of France.
Corporal 21/1653 Joseph Clennan Thompson was killed in action June 18th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 20,000 names inscribed on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, commemorating those who fell in the area of the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war and who have no known grave.
At the time of his demise Corporal Thompson was still only 18 years of age and as such should not have been on active service overseas, it can only be presumed that at the time of his enlistment he lied about his age. In recognition of his service he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His step-mother Mary Ellen Thompson nee Nelson died at Felling during the 4th quarter, Oct/Nov/Dec/ 1930 aged 53 years, Joseph Purvis Thompson of 14 Noble Street, Felling, County Durham died September 24th 1948. Probate was granted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, December 2nd 1948 to William Ord retired solicitor and Stanley Turnbull wood pattern maker. Effects 2983 pounds 10 shillings 7 pence.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Joseph Clennan (CWGC says Clennon) Thompson is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
