Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/09/1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Stephenson was born at Lintz Colliery, County Durham in 1889, one of 11 children, 5 sons and 6 daughters, of whom only 8 survived. The son of Joseph Stephenson born 1850 at Todd Hills, near Consett and his wife Mary Jane Davison native of Hetton, near Lanchester born 1855, they were married August 15th 1884 at Durham Registry Office. His father worked initially as a joiner at the colliery for best part of 20 years, moving from Lintz Colliery at Tanfield near Lanchester to Team Colliery near Lamsley both in County Durham. In 1901 he was employed as an engine wright at Heworth Colliery, his son Joseph was a putter, George an apprentice blacksmith, Thomas was still at school. Ten years later the situation for Joseph was unchanged but George was now a qualified blacksmith working at the colliery, Thomas now 21 laboured below ground.
Thomas enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, October 14th 1914 in the newly formed 18th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Pioneers) Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 278 and began training at Newcastle part of which entailed, after the issue of picks and shovels, marching every day to Benton to dig trenches. The first week was very competitive, the expert miners amongst them managed to dig down 4 feet 6 inches in an hour. After spending time at Rothbury and Cramlington, February 8th 1915 it officially became a Pioneer Battalion and in July joined 34th Division at Kirkby Malzeard. Divisional training continued at Salisbury Plain and Sutton Veny until being taken over by the War Office, November 4th 1915. December 28th preparations were made for embarkation at Southampton and they departed January 7th arriving at Le Havre, on the 8th. Entrained the Division was sent on to the depot at Etaples and underwent a fortnight of route-marching. Private Stephenson was assigned to “B” Company, No. 5 Platoon as preparations were already underway for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. The 34th Division departed from St. Omer for the Somme April 18th 1916. British attacks began July 1st 1916, engaged at the Battle of Albert and Bapaume, capturing La Boisselle, July 4th. “B” Company on the 4th and 5th were given the task of burying the dead, then moved up to Becourt Wood and marched back on the 6th transferring to the 37th Division. July 11th “B” and “D” Companies went into the front line at Bienvillers to find gas cylinders in the trenches ready to be deployed against the Germans which they were when the wind was favourable on the 14th and 15th. Ordered back on the 18th to Verdrei they were lent to the 63rd Division engaged in reopening old trenches destroyed in earlier bombardments, then on to Villers-Au-Bois working mostly at night as the Germans from certain high points on Vimy Ridge could see all they did and they sustained constant bombardment during the day.
Private 278 Thomas Stephenson was killed in action August 17th 1916 and interred, grave II. A. 10 at Les Quatre-Vents Military Cemetery, Estree-Cauchy, Pas de Calais, France. He was 27 years old.
His widow Mary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at 5, Fourth Street, Heworth Colliery, Gateshead, County Durham. She paid the sum of 15 shillings and 5 pence to add a dedication to his military headstone, it reads, In The Letters Of Light God Writeth Their Names-Ever Remembered.
Two of his brothers also served; John William Stephens aged 40 years, married to Mary Jane Robinson, native of Wolsingham, December 13rd 1897, with a daughter Blanche born at Stanhope September 25th 1901, left his employment as a quarryman and enlisted as Private 2292 assigned to the Durham Light Infantry, September 15th 1914. He declared he had previously served with the 6th Battalion for 18 years, with broken periods and was again placed with the Battalion September 5th but transferred to the reserves January 30th 1915. April 19th 1915 he was drafted to France with the British Expeditionary Force landing at Boulogne where the Battalion was attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Transferred to Class W, “services deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil occupation”, December 25th 1916 Private Stephenson was sent back to England and resumed his employment with Messieurs. Consett Iron Company Limited, County Durham with the obligation of recall if required. September 14th 1917 he was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service. Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal he also received a pension back dated to January 17th 1917. Date of death unknown.
Shoeing Smith 573 George Stephenson, Northumbrian Hussars Yeomanry died in Belgium, November 6th 1914. Awards 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 22/09/1916 carries a notice which reads:
Private Thomas Stephenson, N.F., killed in action on August 17th, aged 27 years. Husband of Mary Stephenson and son of Joseph and Mary Stephenson, of Heworth Colliery.”
Thomas Stephenson is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, H92.04, H92.07 and in the Battalion History
