Photo: James Pasby
In St. Simon's (Simonside) Churchyard South Shields is a family headstone which reads:
In loving memory of
J. Pearson
beloved husband of Elizabeth Metcalfe
died April 17th 1936 aged 66 years
Also William their son
died October 17th 1900 aged 6 years
Private M.J. Metcalfe, their son
killed in action Jan. 14th 1918 aged 25 years.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Matthew John Metcalfe was born at Wynyard, near Stockton in 1893, one of 4 children of whom only 3 survived, he was the eldest of 2 sons and a daughter. His father James Pearson Metcalfe was born in the district of Stockton in 1870 and where he married in 1892 to Elizabeth Madderson native of Norton, County Durham born 1867. James and his family lived at Wynyard Station where he was employed by the railway as a plate-layer to support not only his wife and children, Matthew (8) and George (5) but also his mother-in-law Elizabeth Madderson (56), living nearby were Matthew and Mary Ann Metcalfe, his parents. By 1911 the family was complete with the arrival of Elizabeth Ann who was born December 5th 1902. Matthew had now joined his father in the employ of the railway as a porter.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted at West Hartlepool, September 3rd 1914 as, Matthew Metcalfe, assigned as Private 4/9900 to the Durham Light Infantry, which consisted initially of only 450 men stationed at Barnard Castle. Mobilised they were moved to the Tyne Defences at Wallsend and along the north bank of the river Tyne. Later they were transferred to Killingworth and Forest Hall and by September 1915 south of the river to Seaham Harbour where the Battalion remained until the end of the war although part of their role was also to train recruits for active service overseas. During his period with the 4th he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal, however, he was absent 8 days, September 29th-October 4th 1915 and upon his return demoted to Private the following day.
Private Metcalfe was mobilised December 12th 1915 and drafted overseas departing from England December 12th 1916 to France and in turn from Marseille December 22nd 1916 as part of the British Salonika Force to Salonika, arriving December 29th. After a period of familiarisation and acclimatisation he was transferred April 4th 1917 to the 179th Machine Gun Corps in the field as Private 44551.
July 6th 1917 the 179th Company was moved from Salonika to Alexandria for service in Egypt arriving 4 days later and whereas before they were in the front line. After a period of leave that Private Metcalfe was obliged to take in Egypt from October 8th -15th 1917 he returned to his unit which moved to the Israel/Palestine sector of the Suez Canal. December 27th 1917 he was reported as wounded and missing, believed to have been killed. Later that same day he was found with a head wound and taken immediately by the 2nd/4th Lancashire Field Ambulance to the 75th Casualty Clearing Station, his family were informed as to the serious nature of his wounds.
Private 44551 Matthew John Metcalfe Machine Gun Corps died of wounds sustained on active service January 15th 1917 and buried that same day by Chaplain O. H. Knight at Junction Station 105. After Armistice his family were informed that it had been necessary to move his body which was exhumed and brought into Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza) for reburial, he is at rest grave G. 68. At the time of his demise he was 25 years old and single.
His mother Elizabeth, nominated by him as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 3, Wynyard Station, Stockton, County Durham. She commissioned at a cost of 10 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to her son’s military headstone, it reads, “Until The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away”.
James Pearson Metcalfe died in 1936 aged 66 years at South Shields, Matthew’s brother George Hardy Metcalfe in 1977 at Cleveland aged 82 years, sister Elizabeth Ann who married in 1926 at Darlington to Douglas Blackett died aged 76 years in 1979 registered at Durham Western, details of Elizabeth Metcalfe nee Madderson, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Matthew John Metcalfe is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and at Thorpe Thewles on T56.01
