Photo: Pauline Priano
HMS Ballarat
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Harland was the eldest of 6 children all of whom survived, the offspring of Herbert Isaac Harland born 1868 in the district of Kirkstall, West Riding, Yorkshire and Alice Lownsbrough of Pickering, North Yorkshire, born April 22nd 1871. They were married in the district of Pickering in 1899, Thomas William was born in 1890 district of Wetherby, North Yorkshire, however the family had moved to 20, Childeray Street, Stockton by 1891, where Herbert had found work as a general labourer. By 1901 they had moved to Yarm Street, Herbert was employed at the Water Works as a labourer, his wife had also given birth to 2 daughters, Rhoda and Eliza in 1893 and 1895 respectively. Doris Patience was born in 1906 and Herbert Jnr 1908.
February 6th 1910, Thomas William was married at the parish church, Stockton, to Louisa Wolfe, a local girl, born March 16th 1890. The couple moved in with the rest of the family living in 8 rooms at 4, Brunswick Street, Stockton. Thomas William (21) was employed by his father as a labourer as he now had a business of his own as a hay and straw dealer, Elsie (16) was a tailoress, her sister Rhoda (18) remained at home as did sister-in-law Louisa assisting with daily chores and helping to look after Doris (5) and Herbert Jnr (3). Herbert and Alice’s youngest child Ronald was born during the 2nd quarter 1911 after the completion of the census, their first grandchild Alice Mary Harland, August 1st 1911.
Herbert Harland and family moved to 4, William Street, Stockton, between 1911 and 1915, Thomas and his family moved in next door at number 5. After the declaration of war Thomas William enlisted at Middlesborough, December 12th 1915 and via the Recruiting Officer, Stockton requested the following, May 9th 1916. “The bearer Thomas W. Harland of group 31 card no. 64 is desirous of being posted to 3/1st Northumbrian (N. R.) R. G. A. If this can be arranged through the proper channel I shall be very pleased to accept him for service in the above unit providing you consider him eligible for Artillery.”
Private Harland was instead posted, May 11th 1916, to the Army Reserve General Service class C1, ‘only fit for garrison duty or other duties in Britain or Ireland,’ joining No 1 Coy, 25th Works Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 34487 and promoted to the rank of Corporal, August 9th 1916.
With the introduction of conscription for single men between 18-41 this brought many more men from category C into the Army. When this was extended to married men Corporal Harland was transferred to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, October 16th 1916 which was at South Shields and Jarrow as part of the Tyne Garrison, also a training battalion providing men for the draft.
Prior to his departure with his regiment Corporal Harland made a will, March 8th 1917, in favour of his wife whom in the event of his death was to receive all his possessions and effects. He departed for the front arriving at the Base Depot Etaples, France, March 6th 1917 where he was posted to ‘D’ Company of the 22nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Pioneer Battalion that had been at the front since March 1916 in France participating at The Battles of the Somme but had now transferred to the salient in Belgium attached to the 8th Division. The battalion was hard at work during the spring of 1917 digging new and repairing old trenches, maintaining the lines of communication and laying a new light railway, in preparation for the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres which commenced July 31st 1917. This work alone cost the battalion about 100 casualties as they were constantly subjected to shell fire and mustard gas attack.
Corporal Thomas William Harland Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, July 15th 1917 on the Ypres salient and interred at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, which was begun by the 8th Division in June 1917. He is at rest grave I. B. 13, at the time of his demise he was 27 years of age.
His widow Louisa received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their daughter of 20 shillings a week as of January 21st 1918, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also personal items consisting of; pouch, post-cards, photos, pipe, safety-matches, razor, 3 blades, safety razor in case, cigarette case, photo, gold signet ring, whistle and strap, wrist watch, guard strap, cigarette cards, disc.
Louisa Harland, under her maiden surname Wolfe, re-married at Stockton in 1921 to Bertram Joseph Oyston Steadman, born at Durham, November 19th 1887. Further details as regards her husband are unknown.Mrs Louisa Steadman and Miss Alice M. Harland of 3, Charles Street, Roker-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, emigrated to Australia, listed as unaccompanied by husband, aboard the P & O steamship, S.S. Ballarat, from London to Port-Adelaide, May 12th 1927. Further details as regards Louisa Steadman-Harland nee Wolfe are unknown.
Mary Ann Harland was married at Victoria, Australia in 1934 to Charles Henry Frances Watkins born New South Wales, Australia in 1904 and with whom she had a son Thomas Leslie born in about 1935 and Charles Madison Watkins, date of birth unknown.
Her husband was a farmer and her sons assisted him and are listed in the Fish Creek, subdistrict Foster, Gippsland, Victoria census of 1967 as farmer/dairy hand.
Their son Thomas Leslie Watkins died in 1975, Charles Henry Frances Watkins, August 9th 1978, aged 74 years, Mary Ann Watkins nee Harland, aged 70 years, August 21st 1881, registered Foster, Victoria, Australia.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Harland is remembered at Stockton on S138.18a
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 183
