Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Patrick Elmore, one of 9 children, was the 4th born of 8 sons and 1 daughter. His father Luke Elmore born in Ireland in 1849 settled in the north east where he married in 1875 to Mary Ann Tucker of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, born 1855. The family moved extensively as Luke was employed as a coal miner/hewer. Their only daughter Winifred was born in 1875 at Kenton, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Luke Jnr 1876 at Haswell, County Durham, William 1880 at Renton, Northumberland, John 1882 at Fence Houses, Patrick 1885 at Haswell, Michael 1887 at Felling, all in County Durham, James 1889 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Thomas 1891 at Thornily, baptised March 20th 1892 at The Sacred Heart and English Martyrs and Martin 1896 at South Shields, where he was baptised March 18th, both in County Durham.
In 1891 the family were living at Swinburne Street, Thornley where Luke was employed at the colliery as was Luke Jnr, a pony driver. Ten years later they were at 6, Wood Houses, Washington, Patrick and Michael both worked below ground at the colliery as a labourer and pony driver respectively, by 1911 Michael and Martin were the only of Luke and Mary Anne’s children living at home at 22, Railway Street, Littleburn, County Durham, working at the pit, as was there father. It is also recorded that four of their children (all sons) had died.
Patrick Elmore was married in 1906 to Isabella Doyle, in the district of Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham. Isabella was born at Thornley, June 27th 1886, she and Patrick by 1911 had 4 children, Isabella, baptised at Houghton, November 24th 1906, Winifred, affectionately known as Winnie, 1908 at Washington, Mary in 1909 and Patrick Jnr, baptised February 17th 1910 and were living at 23, Beechgrove Terrace, Edmondsley, County Durham. Patrick supported his family employed as a coal hewer.
When war was declared in 1914 they were living at Haswell, County Durham, Patrick enlisted at Sunderland. He must have been a member of the Territorials which would explain his almost immediate departure with the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment as Private 13882. The 2nd Battalion was withdrawn from India at the beginning of the war, arriving in England by December 1914 and along with the Territorials departed to France, via Southampton arriving at Le Havre between January 16th-19th 1915 as part of the newly formed 28th Division.
Having concentrated between Bailleul and Hazelbrouck the battalion saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th 1915. Private 13882 Patrick Elmore East Yorkshire Regiment, initially reported as missing was later stuck off and listed as presumed to have been killed in action, April 23rd 1915. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 54,611 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres, Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and the Commonwealth who were killed on the Ypres salient before August 16th 1917 whose graves have never been found or who have no known grave. He was 29/30 years of age.
His widow Isabella received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. She remarried in 1921, district of Gateshead, County Durham, to Luke Elmore, whether this was Patrick’s brother or not cannot be established without viewing a copy of the marriage certificate. They are listed in 1939 as living at 11, Grace Street, Whickham, near Gateshead, County Durham, with 2 children, Ellen born July 7th 1924 and William, September 27th 1929. Luke is listed as a general labourer, Isabella, an invalid.
Isabella Elmore-Elmore nee Doyle died aged 74 years in 1961.
Patrick’s mother Mary Ann Elmore nee Tucker died in 1919 aged 64 years, district of Lanchester, County Durham, details as regards demise of father Luke Elmore, unknown.
Patrick’s brother Martin Elmore also served during WW1, he died of wounds, August 5th 1917, whilst on active service in Belgium.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Patrick Elmore is remembered at Haswell on H116.01 at Whickham with his brother Martin on W86.09 and at Dunston Hill again with Martin on D31.01
