Photo: David Kelly
Sent by Sergeant Thomas Bonney
Medal Index Card
Reverse of Post Card.
Thomas was born in 1895, at East Terrace Birtley, he was the third eldest boy of eleven children, with only seven children surviving, to John Bonney, [born at 2 Wash House, Birtley, January 1981, died 1935], and his wife Jane Lee, [born Dipton, 1865 died 1926]. They had married in 1884.
John Bonney's parents were Richard and Hannah Bonney from High Row in Birtley. John was one of 9 children.
The other children were William, born East Terrace, Birtley in 1892, died 1917, Richard born 1887, died 1918, Margaret, born October 1897, James, born January 1903, died 1922, Ralph Winn, born 13th March 1904, died 1977, Annie, born 1886 and Jane born 1882 died 1898.
In 1901 the family had moved to 10 Nicholson Terrace, Beamish, Durham.
In 1911 they were all residing at 200, Ouston Square, Birtley.
Thomas was a Colliery Driver underground, and was 19 years and 125 days old when enlisting at Birtley for Short Service or the duration of the war, in 1914.
The 11th Battalion were in the 20th Division and were at Amesbury in Wiltshire in July 1915. On the 20th July they marched to Southampton arriving about 8 pm. The Battalion embarked for Le Havre and arrived at about 2 am on the 21st July 1915.
22nd July at 12.00 noon they caught the train to St Omer, which they reached on the following day.
They then marched south west to Esquerdes. Then a 10 mile route march on the 26th July. They then marched to Merris, east just beyond Hazebrouck.
The division was now attached to III Corps.
30th July the Battalion was at La Rue du Bois, where they were working to improve roads and drainage ditches. On the 1st August Sunday, 'D' Company were on Church Parade.
About the 2nd November 1914, Thomas was promoted to a Corporal, and again on June 26th 1916 to Lance Sergeant, finally Sergeant on the 29th August 1916.
David Kelly supplied these photographs.
Thomas Bonney sent this postcard which starts in the normal place and is then continued at the top.
His message reads:
Dearest
Just a line hoping you are keeping alright as it leaves me at present. I have got through the exam alright and got my cross & words on my arm so we are swanking 'What, What' but by goodness I have never been so downhearted in my life as I am today I did expect to get home for a few days
(message continued at top) but never mind we will grin and bear it. Your loving boy. Corpl. T. Bonney
Somebody else has written: Tommy Bonny married to Lizzie Greener (He was killed on Armistice Day in France 1914-1918 war).
Thomas Bonney married in 1917 Elizabeth Greener, born Trimdon 1894, daughter of Thomas William, born Perkinsville, 1871, [Coal Hewer], and Sarah Greener, [born 1873], married in 1893. She was the eldest daughter of 7 children, Thomas, born 1898, Robert, born 1900, Willie, born 1902, Joseph, born 1902 and Charlotte, born 1907. One child died.
They were all residing at 317 Boundary Street, Urpeth, Birtley in 1911, prior to this in 1901 they were at 7 Boundary Street.
Easter Day, 31st March 1918, the DLI positions came under a heavy artillery bombardment, as repeated before so many times, and as both flanks were turned they fell back south of the River Luce by late afternoon.
Captain Pemberton organised the 11th DLI on a hill south south-east of Thennes. The Germans attacked almost immediately but were repulsed. The remnants of the 6th KSLI and the 11th DLI joined cavalry in a counter attack and by 8 pm., aided by artillery fire had secured their flanks. Sergeant Thomas Bonney was killed.
Source: 11th Battalion DLI Martin Bashforth page 180.
Thomas also had two brothers who served in WW1, Richard Bonney and William Bonney
Acknowledgements: Steve Smith
Thomas Bonney is remembered at Pelton on P26.01 and at Durham in D47.013a page 68.
