Illustrated Chronicle 1916
Heslop's Local Advertiser 20/07/1917
Longuenese Souvenir Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Peter Wallace born 1888 at Seaton, Cumberland was one of 15 children of whom only 8 survived, 6 sons and 2 daughters of Peter Wallace born 1858 and Mary Jane Owens born 1863, both natives of Seaton, who were married in the district of Cockermouth, Cumberland during the second quarter of 1886. Peter Wallace Snr. was a coal miner, the family remained in Seaton until moving to the north east after 1902 and can be found living at 3, Graylingstadt Terrace, Craghead, County Durham in 1911. Peter Jnr., now 21, worked as a hewer, as did his father and eldest brother Thomas, John aged 18 was a driver, his sister Mary Jane at 15 was working as a domestic, the younger children were scholars.
At the outbreak of the Great War Peter enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in September 1914. He was assigned as Private 16486 to the 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, one of the new army battalion attached to the 68rd Brigade, 23rd Division, moving to Aldershot in November, on to Willesborough in Kent by February 1915 and went to Bramshott in May. The Division as part of the British Expeditionary Force landed at Boulogne, France, 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.
Private Wallace was wounded in action at the front line mid May 1916 and was evacuated by the Field Ambulance to 7th General Hospital at St Omer, the main H. Q. of the British Expeditionary Force and where he could have been sent back to the United Kingdom for treatment. Unfortunately, he died of his wounds May 28th 1916, aged just 26 years.
Private 16485 Peter Wallace was interred at Longuenese Souvenir Cemetery, St. Omer, Pas de Calais, France, grave III. B. 19. The headstones in this cemetery, unlike the norm, are touching and some contain two burials as this was the main burial ground for the many casualties from the British and Canadian General Hospitals in the area.
His mother received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her home address of 45, Reservoir Street, Wardley, Pelaw, County Durham. The family paid 5 shillings and 6 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, Gone But Not Forgotten.
John Wallace also enlisted and perished during the Great War, August 13th 1917, another blow to the family coming just over a year after the loss of their son Peter.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 20/07/1917 reports:
Private Peter Wallace, D.L.I., died of wounds, May 28th, aged 28 years. Son of Peter and Mary Jane Wallace of Wardley.
Peter Wallace is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
