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Photo: Vin Mullen
Thomas Henderson the son of Dr James Johnstone and Maria Cameron Weir was born in 1882 at Hartlepool. In 1901 the family are at Craigie Lea, Jarrow and Thomas is an apprentice draughtsman in a shipyard.
A Draughtsman residing at Chiswick, London, he was Initiated on the 5th February 1906; Passed 9th March 1906 and Raised on the 10th July 1906 into St Bede 1119 Lodge of Freemasons at Jarrow. His father had been initiated into St Bede Lodge in 1892. He married in 1906.
Thomas Henderson Weir was killed in action on the 8th May 1918 and is buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference IV. A. 15.
Newcastle Journal 16/05/ 1918 reports his death
Major Weir was a draughtsman in business in London, endeavoured to enlist as a private and after being refused he received a commission in the Engineers, Territorial. He has twice been mentioned in despatches.
Jarrow Express 17/05/1918 reports:-
He went to France in 1915. Letters from local engineers to their friends reveal that the men were much attached to Major Weir who was killed by being struck by shrapnel.
At some point Thomas was awarded the Military Cross and in 1919 his brother Major Acting Lieutenant Colonel David Henderson Weir also was awarded the M.C.
In Jarrow Cemetery is a family headstone for Weir, which includes:
Major Tom Henderson Weir MC
Field Co. Durham RE
Killed in action May 8th 1918
Faithful unto death
An article in the Northern Echo for 01/10/1920 reads:
"It was reported at the Jarrow Education Committee monthly meeting last night that Dr. J.J. Weir had given a prize in memory of his son, Major Thomas Weir, who was killed in the war, to be awarded annually to the boy in the senior form who, in the opinion of the trustee, has done the best work during the year in engineering and cognate subjects."
Sadly, the school is not identified in the article.
Vin Mullen has added some more information:
Thomas Henderson Weir was 35 when he died; he was born in Hartlepool, and was residing in London; he was formerly a draughtsman at the Palmer Shipyard in Jarrow; he was the son of James Johnstone Weir (Physician and Surgeon) and Maria Cameron Weir of Jarrow.
Thomas Henderson Weir is remembered at Jarrow on J2.32 and Jarrow Masonic Hall J2.51 and in the Masonic Roll of Honour
