Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Bertie Wyeth was born August 17th 1885 at Darlington, County Durham, was one of 5 known children, the 2nd born of 3 sons and 2 daughters. His father John Edward Wyeth was born at Camberwell, London in 1852, the son of a carpenter, he migrated to the north east settling at Stanton, County Durham where he met and married at Hartlepool in 1881, Rachael Ann Edwards originally from Bradford, Lancashire where she was born in 1858, her family had settled at Stanton as early as 1871. In 1881 John Edward was employed as a railway porter, in 1896 his wife Rachael Ann died aged 38 years, their eldest child was 14 the youngest only 6. He continued in his employment with the railway while his eldest son William at the age of 19 was employed as a plater’s assistant at the ship yards, John Richard (16) worked as a cleaner, Susannah (18) undertook domestic duties at home, Bertie (12) and Ann Maria (11) were scholars. Ten years later Bertie was a lodger at 29, Lowson Street, Stillington, home of his brother John Richard, his wife Martha and their daughter Jessie. Bertie and John Richard were both employed as labourers at the blast furnace, Carlton Iron Works.
On the outbreak of war Bertie enlisted at West Hartlepool in 1914 assigned as Private 19723 York and Lancaster Regiment, 10th Service Battalion. The Battalion was part of Kitchener’s New Army and joined the 63rd Brigade, 21st Division. After initial training near to home they were moved to Halton Park, spending the winter in billets at Leighton Buzzard as of December 1914. May 1915 the battalion moved to Tring then on to Witley by August for final training. September 11th 1915 they departed to France landing at Boulogne. The 10th Battalion went into action as part of the first British assault at Loos, September 26th 1915 where the Division suffered 3,800 casualties. In 1916 they were in action on the first day of the Battles of the Somme at Albert, July 1st-13th.
Private 19723 Bertie Wyeth York and Lancaster Regiment was killed in action July 3rd 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from the Commonwealth and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave. He was 30 years old and single.
Having nominated his father John Edward as his sole legitimate beneficiary he received all monies owed to his son by the Army and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Bertie Wyeth is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02 at Hartlepool on H115.30 and at West Hartlepool on W111.54 and W111.86
