Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/09/1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Matthew Weatherley born 1896 at Craghead, County Durham was the only child of coal miner Morton Weatherley native of Burradon, Northumberland, born 1868 and his wife, Charlotte Hindmarsh born at West Moor, Northumberland in 1873, whom he married in the district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, in 1896. The family moved around continually, 1891 found them living at Jubilee Street, Wallsend-on-Tyne, near Newcastle, ten years later they were back in the Craghead area living at 27, West Street, Grange Villa. His father was a stone-man below ground at the colliery, Matthew now aged 14 was a van driver for a laundry.
Matthew Weatherley enlisted, for a period of 3 years, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, September 7th 1914 and was assigned as Private 17943 to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, one of the new army battalions. He had declared he was 19 years old, he was in fact only 17. The 13th Battalion attached to the 68rd Brigade, 23rd Division moved to Aldershot in November and on to Willesborough, Kent in March 1915 and by May they were at Bramshott. During his time in training he rose through the ranks and was appointed Lance Corporal, January 20th 1915. As part of the British Expeditionary Force the Division landed at Boulogne, August 26th 1915 concentrating near Tilques. September 5th, they were attached to the III Corp and moved to Merris-Vieux for trench familiarisation from the 20th and 27th Division, taking over the front-line sector between Ferme Grande Flamergrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road in their own right by the 14th. During the Battle of Loos, they were in action holding the front at Bois Grenier, they were relieved from that sector at the end of January 1916 and Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem with the units concentrated around Bruay for a period of rest.
On March 3rd, they returned to the front line, taking over a sector between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division. In early March a Tunnelling Company was established and men with a background in mining were transferred from the ranks to the Royal Engineers. In mid-April, they returned to Bruay area for rest until mid-May when they again took over the front line, just before the German attack on Vimy Ridge on April 21st 1916. On June 11th 1916 the 23rd Division Infantry moved to Bomy and the artillery to Chamblain Chatelain and Therouanne to begin intensive training for the Battles of the Somme. July 3rd 1916 Matthew was appointed to the rank of Corporal whilst they were in action in the Battle of Albert which included the capture of Contalmaison,followed by the Battles of Bazentin Ridge and the Battle of Delville Wood which raged from July 15th-3rd September 1916. Corporal 17943 Matthew Weatherley Durham Light Infantry was killed in action during this battle, August 4th 1916, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades. He was 19 years old and single.
His parents, who were living at Felling, Gateshead were informed of his death and received all monies due to him. August 4th 1917, as per Matthew’s will, all his personal items consisting of; 4 letters, photos, postcards, pocket book and religious book, were returned to his mother Charlotte at 14, Brussels Road, Wallsend-on-Tyne.
It was not until May 26th 1923 that his body was exhumed, identified by means of a disc and brought into Delville Wood Military Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France, for reburial with all reverence and military honours, grave XX. Q. 3. In a letter dated June 3rd 1923 from the Infantry Offices in York, his mother, now living at Springwood Villa, Forest Hall, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was informed of his resting place and means of identification via a disc. She requested the return of her son's disc, “matterless what condition it is in”.
In recognition of his service to his country Corporal Matthew Weatherley was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/09/1916 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
“Corporal Matthew Weatherley, killed in action on August 4th. Son of Morton and Charlotte Weatherley, of Felling.”
Matthew Weatherley is remembered at Wallsend on W7.21 and at Heworth on H92.03
