George Thornton Tweddle one of 12 children, was the 3rd son of his surviving 4 brothers and had 3 elder sisters. His parents Thomas Tweddle and Catherine Tench were natives of Winlaton, District of Gateshead, County Durham, born 1849 and 1850 respectively, and married in 1869, settling in their home village where Thomas was a butcher. Their son Anthony was born at Back Street, Winlaton in 1871 and baptised May 21st, Emily 1873, Thomas Edwin 1877 and John in 1881 at Sand Hill, Winlaton. Over the next ten years Catherine gave birth to the remainder of her surviving children, Lily, October 24th 1882, sadly whilst she was pregnant with her daughter Catherine who was born in 1887, 6-year old Thomas Edwin died in 1886, George Thornton was born in 1889 and Norman in 1891 whilst they were living at 12, Church Street. Both Thomas Tweddle and his son Anthony (20) were employed as butcher’s assistants, John (10) and Lily (8) were scholars, Emily (17) assisted her mother looking after the home and younger children.

At the age of 23, Anthony Tweddle departed, August 24th 1894, from Southampton aboard the “S.S. Cuzco,” bound for Melbourne, Australia, but had returned to Winlaton by 1899 where he was married to Ann Isabella Bullerwell, with whom, by 1904, he had 2 children. He became a master butcher and in 1911 was running his own shop in Winlaton. Emily Tweddle had married in 1896 to house joiner Michael Ladler and had a daughter.

In 1901 John was the eldest living at home but had not followed in his father’s footsteps, instead he was employed as a house plumber. He and his father supported his mother and siblings, also living with them was his 24-year old cousin Elizabeth Ann Tench, a dressmaker. By 1911 the family was living at 10, Parliament Street, Winlaton, Thomas (62) ran his butchery business and employed his sons George (21) and Norman (20) as his assistants, Kate (24) was an elementary teacher, and John (30) a master plumber was also an employer, Lily Tweddle had also married into the Bullerwell family, having taken as her husband, her sister in law, Isabella Ann’s younger brother William, in 1904.Tragically Emily Ladler nee Tweddle died in 1911, aged 38-years, she left a widower and 3 children, the youngest only 2-years old.

Thomas Tweddle of Winlaton died in 1913, his widow moved in with her son, farmer and butcher, George Tweddle, at Loup Farm, Blaydon-on-Tyne, as did John, George and Norman all of whom were still single.

Britain declared a state of war with Germany, August 4th 1914. December 10th 1915 at the age of 26 years and 6 months George Thornton Tweddle enlisted and was initially posted to the Army Reserve until January 27th 1917. He was mobilised and posted as Gunner 204516 to the Royal Field Artillery at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and sent to the Royal Field Artillery Depot for training departing to Mesopotamia, August 26th 1917. Disembarked October 18th 1917, he joined the 55th (Howitzer) Brigade, 28th Division, October 20th, remaining with the brigade until March 8th 1919 when he embarked for England arriving in port March 31st and was posted to the Reserve Brigade, April 1st 1919. June 26th 1919 Gunner Tweddle was sent to Class Z, free to return to his home and employment but under the obligation to return to the Colours should hostilities resume. He was discharged March 31st 1920.

January 24th 1921 Ex Gunner Tweddle made an application to receive a pension on the grounds he was suffering from deafness, left ear, and malaria, his application was refused. He was the recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Whilst George was on active service his elder brother Sapper John Hawarden Tweddle Royal Engineers died of wounds sustained in France, August 26th 1918.

Having returned to civilian life he was initiated as a member of Freemasons Hall, Clavering Lodge No. 3920, Blaydon Bank, Blaydon on Tyne, August 10th 1921. Married in 1922, district of Gateshead, County Durham, to his first cousin Elizabeth Tench, they had two children, John T. Tweddle, September 27th 1924 and George A. Tweddle, December 19th 1926. George Thornton Tweddle died in 1966, District of Gateshead, County Durham.

In 1919, farmer, Anthony Tweddle and his family, wife Isabella Ann (Tench), daughter Margery Foster Tweddle (1901) and Anthony Tench Tweddle (1904), were residing in Sudbury Corio, Victoria, Australia where Anthony Snr died in 1953.

Lily Bullerwell-Tweddle, died June 16th 1956.

The death of Norman Tweddle, preceded that of his siblings, March 10th 1950.

Catherine Tweddle nee Trench died in 1928, her demise and that of her family registered District of Gateshead, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.