Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Thomas was born at Barnard Castle in 1889 the son of Reuben and Jane (nee Errington) later being baptised on Christmas day December 25th 1889. The couple had married in 1884 and went on to have 9 children but 2 of them died.
The 1891 census shows the family living in the Market Place in the town where his father Reuben had his own business with a butcher’s shop. At that time Thomas had 2 siblings Henry and Sarah.
By 1901 the family had grown to include children Margaret, Reuben, William and James. The next census in 1911 shows Jane described as a widow as her husband had died June 24th 1909. He had left an estate of nearly £1500.
1911 lists the family as still living and carrying on their business in the Market Place.
Son, Henry a butcher is carrying on the business whilst the other family members are going their own ways. Thomas was a student (teaching), Reuben junior a joiner’s apprentice (cartwright), Robert a chemist’s apprentice, James and William at school. A servant/butcher’s apprentice is helping out in the shop.
Much of the following information is taken from various pieces published in the Teesdale Mercury :-“Thomas was educated at the Church School, where he gained a scholarship to the North Eastern County School. He went on to Armstrong College, Newcastle, where he obtained a B.Sc. degree.
At the outbreak of war he was Science master at the Grammar School Earls Colne, Essex. He joined University and ex-Public School Battalion in September 1914 as a private. In December 1914, Thomas was gazette second lieutenant in the 11th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry stationed at Cannock Chase and was given the rank of captain early in 1916.”
It appears Thomas met Hilda Maria Steward while at his teaching position at Colne as she had a position on the staff also. The couple married on 8 July 1916 at Halstead, Essex only 5 days before he was posted to France. In fact, the couple never saw each other again as Thomas was killed in action less than 3 months later on September 26th 1916.
The report of his death appeared in the Chelmsford Chronicle 13/10/1916. It seems that Thomas was killed by a bomb when leading his men under terrific fire in the first wave if the attack.
Hilda later remarried to a vicar, Percival Watts and went on to have 3 children to him. He left his estate amounting to £170 to her.
Thomas is listed on the Thiepval memorial along with over 72,000 of his comrades.
Information from Teesdale Mercury 23/12/1914, 01/03/1916 and 04/10/16.
Thomas Errington Sayer is remembered in Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.04, B135.20, B135.23 and B135.25, at Byker on B95.01, at Durham in D47.151 and at Newcastle on NUT063 and NUT263
