Thomas William born at Gateshead was the youngest of 3 sons and 2 daughters, son of Matthew Cook Robson born 1866 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and his wife Margaret Jane Laidler of Gateshead, County Durham born 1868, whom he married in the parish of St. James, Gateshead in 1886. Robert was born in 1887, Christina 1889, James 1890, Caroline 1891 and Thomas William 1895. The family was living at 16, Cowan Street, Gateshead in 1891 as Matthew was employed at the iron works. By 1908 their marriage was over and Margaret Jane had remarried in the district of Durham to George Burlison, a widower, his wife Mary (Oxnard) had died in 1907 leaving him with 5 children between the ages of 11 and 2. George and Margaret Jane left Gateshead and moved to 26, Durham Street, Brandon Colliery where George was employed as a hewer and his eldest son Richard (14) as a driver below ground, their lodger John Haddock also worked at the colliery as a putter. Only Caroline Robson (18) was living with them whilst her brothers Robert (23), Thomas William (16) and her father Matthew lived at 227, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead, with his widowed mother Caroline Robson (83). Thomas William was a fitter’s apprentice at an engineering works, Matthew, a labourer and Robert, a fitter, were employed by Redheugh Gas Works, her other siblings were married.

When war broke out Thomas William was living at 51, Queen Street, Brandon Colliery with his mother and step-father, he left his employment at Brandon Colliery to enlisted at Durham, November 2nd 1914. Assigned as Private 12206 to the East Yorkshire Regiment, he joined his regiment at Aldershot, December 8th and was posted to the 9th Battalion. They moved to Frensham and went on to Folkestone, February 1915 then to Maidstone in Kent. As part of the 69th Brigade, 23rd Division Private Robson landed at Boulogne August 26th 1915, the Division concentrated near Tilques. September 5th they were attached to the III Corps moving to the Merris-Vieux Berlin area for trench familiarisation by the 20th and 27th Divisions. They took over the front line in their own right between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road two weeks later. During the Battle of Loos the 23rd Division held the front at Bois Grenier until they were relieved at the end of January 1916 when they were given a period of rest near Bruay. They spent the following months in and out of the trenches at Bruay until the Attack on Vimy Ridge where they were in support of the 47th (London) Division until in June they began intensive training in preparation for the Battles of the Somme.

On the opening day of the Battles of the Somme they saw action at the Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, during this battle Private Robson took a gunshot wound to the shoulder, July 5th 1916, taken by the 70th Field Ambulance to Etaples for initial treatment then on to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. He was sufficiently recovered to return to the field by July 30th 1916, Private Robson was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment with a change of service number 17933, August 1st 1916 and appointed unpaid Lance Corporal by October 5th. He fought on the Somme for the remainder of 1916 and was again promoted by December 1916 to the rank of Corporal.

The 2nd Battalion as part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Division was moved to the Arras sector and on the first day of battle April 9th 1917 Corporal Robson was again wounded, a gunshot wound to the left leg and admitted to the 1st South Africa General Hospital, Abbeville, France. Unfortunately Corporal Robson's leg could not be saved and was amputated. He was evacuated via Boulogne to one of the the military hospitals at Southport on Merseyside. Sufficiently recovered he was posted to the Yorkshire Regiment Depot at Richmond May 29th 1917 and discharged from the Army November 24th 1917 under King’s Regulations 392(xvi), no longer Physically fit for war service. Silver Badge no.302480.

He returned to live with his mother and step-father until he was married in 1918 to Hilda M Wilkes and moved to 16, South Street, it was at this address that he received his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also his disability pension. Thomas William and Hilda had 5 children, David William who was born in 1918 and died in 1919 not yet 1-year-old, Mary 1920, Hilda M. 1922, Emma 1925 and Alice 1929.

Thomas William Robson died in 1974 aged 79 years, Hilda M. Robson nee Wilkes in 1985 aged 85 years, both registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.

Thomas William’s half-brother Richard Burlison was killed in Belgium, November 11th 1915, aged 19 years and single, as was his brother Robert Robson 13 months later, October 3rd 1916 aged 29 years both recipients of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Matthew Cook Robson died at Gateshead in 1933 aged 67 years, his ex-wife Margaret Jane Burlison-Robson nee Laidler aged 66 years in 1934. George Burlison died at in the district of Durham in 1954 aged 84 years of age.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.