Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Thwaites one of 10 children of whom only 4 survived, was the 2nd eldest of 3 sons and a daughter. His parents were both born 1871 in County Durham, Frederick Thwaites Snr at Philadelphia and Rachael Anderson at Durham City, they were married May 14th 1894 in the district of Deptford, Sunderland, County Durham. By 1901 Frederick and Rachael had 4 children Frederick Jnr born February 6th 1895, William 1897, John George 1899 and Ada 1900 and were sharing a property at 3, Back Hedley Street with the McKie family, 4 adults and 8 children in all. Frederick supported his family employed for his own account as a male hairdresser specialising in cutting hair and shaving. Ten years later they were still at the same address, Frederick (19) was serving his apprenticeship, to become a moulder, with a marine engineering company as was William as an apprentice pattern maker, neither of their younger siblings are listed as scholars though this may be an over-sight.
He enlisted at Sunderland, December 8th 1915, assigned as Private 28187 and was sent to the Army Reserve until January 21st 1916 when he was posted to the 23rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The battalion was moved to Atwick near Hornsea, April 1916 from where he was posted to the 19th Battalion D.L.I. June 29th 1916, departing that same day to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. The 19th was a Bantam Battalion made up of men who were below the minimum regulation height of 5’ 3”, attached to the 106th Brigade, 35th Division. Private Thwaites joined his regiment in the final days preceding its participation, July 14th-17th at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge. The 19th Battalion D.L.I. had been attached to 1/6th West Yorkshire Regiment, July 13th 1916.
Private 28187 William Thwaites Durham Light Infantry was killed in action within 3 weeks of his arrival on the Western Front, July 21st 1916. He was 19 years of age, single and is at rest at Blighty Valley British Cemetery, Authuille Wood, Somme, France, grave I. B. 16. His death came 5 months after that of his elder brother Frederick serving with the Durham Light Infantry in Belgium.
All monies owed to him were as per his will assigned to his mother Rachael, his personal belongings and awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were posted to his father.
Rachael Thwaites nee Anderson died aged 47 years in 1918, Frederick Thwaites Snr in 1943 aged 72 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Thwaites is remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 Part 02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 189
