Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

The birth of Thomas was registered in the December Q 1924 in the registration district of Sunderland. He was the eldest child of Thomas and Annie Sayers (nee Armstrong). His parents married in the church of St. Mary Magdalene, Sunderland on the 29th December 1923. His father, aged 22 years at the time, was employed as a Miner. Annie was aged 19 years and employed as a Domestic Servant, both signed the register.

There were four other children from the marriage:
Ellen born December Q 1926
Ada born March Q 1929
Angus born December Q 1931
Gordon born June Q 1935
All were born in the registration district of Sunderland.

I have no information of Thomas’s early years but in 1939, when aged 15, he can be found with the family residing at 22 Maplewood Avenue, Southwick. Also residing with them was his grandfather, also called Thomas, who was widowed. Though difficult to read it does look as though young Thomas was employed as an Errand Boy for a Compass Maker (these would have been Ship’s Compasses).

Not having access to his service records the only information on his Army service was that he enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry serving as a Private with the service number 14566899 and, as his father states in the inquest report below, he served in Palestine and it was there where he became ill.

The Coroner’s report details Thomas’s movements on arriving back in England in March. Sadly he succumbed to his illness and on Tuesday 6th November 1945 Thomas passed away at the family home of 22 Hazelwood Avenue.

Because of the nature of the death an inquest was held. The Sunderland Echo on the 7th and 9th November 1945 contain the following:

REPORTED TO CORONER
Thomas Sayers (21), a Private in the D.L.I., 22 Hazelwood Avenue, who died at his home yesterday (Tuesday 6th November).
INQUEST ON D.L.I. PRIVATE
Effect of Military Service in War
A verdict that “Death was due to pulmonary tuberculosis set up by military service” was recorded by Coroner J. C. Morton at an inquest in Sunderland General Hospital yesterday (Thursday 8th November) on Thomas Sayers, (21), a private in the D.L.I., who died on Tuesday (6th November) at his home, 22 Hazelwood Avenue.

Evidence by the father revealed that Sayers was a healthy man before he joined the Army.

“We received a letter from him in January that he had a slight touch of tuberculosis and was in the 16th General Hospital in Palestine,” said witness, who added that his son arrived in this country in March and was in hospital at Chester until July 10, when he was transferred to Sunderland General Hospital. He remained there until November 3 when, at witness’s request, he was allowed to go home.

Doctor W. Ferguson (Tuberculosis Officer at the General Hospital) said that Sayers’s condition deteriorated after admission.

The following announcement was placed in the Sunderland Echo 07/11/1945.

Roll of Honour22 Hazelwood Avenue, Southwick, November 6, 21 years, Thomas, beloved son of Thomas and Annie Sayers. Internment Southwick Cemetery, Friday, leaving 1.15. Service in Methodist Church, The Green. Deeply mourned.

Thomas was laid to rest on the 9th November 1945 in Section EE, Grave no. 1588 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place. Inscribed at the base of the stone are the words: ASLEEP IN GOD’S GARDEN / FREE OF PAIN / AWAITING THE DAY / WE’LL BE UNITED AGAIN.

His father Thomas died aged 63 years in the Royal Infirmary, Sunderland late February 1965, he was laid to rest 22nd February 1965 in the same plot as his son.

His mother Annie lived to the age of 87 years, she died in the December Q 1991 in Sunderland. I have been unable to find a burial for Annie, it was possible she was cremated.

Thomas Sayers is remembered in Peter Gibson's Book

He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 85

The CWGC entry for Private Sayers