Sapper John Edward Niddrie

Postcard to his Grandmother

Medal Card Index

John was husband of Margaret Blenkle and they married in Gateshead on the 1st September 1917. They had two sons Robert, born 29th October 1919 and John William born 4th April 1918.

His trade was a plumber.

He was 17 years 7 months old when he had his Medical inspection in March 1912.

He was employed at The Northumberland Shipbuilding Co & Son before enlisting at North Shields on the 4th March 1912. He was residing at 21 Stothard Street, Jarrow before signing up for 4 years, (Army form E501) serving with the 1st Coy, Tyne Electrical Engineers (TEE), no 412. [In 1914, the TEE consisted of four companies, and a HQ based at North Shields providing Searchlights for Coastal defences].

He qualified for a Telephonist being awarded the grade 'Skilled' on passing his qualification test in March 1913. (E577 Army form confirms this).

On the 3rd of September 1914, he transferred to the Royal Engineers (RE), no 465105. He was promoted to 2nd Corporal on the 1st June 1914. However, was reverted back to Sapper on the 3rd September 1914 for leaving the (Clifford) Fort without permission and breaking into the Barracks. He served in France and Flanders from the 25th August 1915 with the 25th Company Royal Engineers which was a Divisional Signals Company.

He was released from the Royal Engineers on the 14th August 1916, sent home on the 24th August 1916, so that he could return to work with Messrs The Northumberland Shipbuilding Co & Son, Howdon on Tyne, Willington Quay R.S.O on the 9th September 1916.

His army release document states the reason for being sent home he is now a Marine Fitter- reserved occupation.

He was still retained by the Army, transferring to the No 2 Territorial Base Depot on the 29th August 1916, and was discharged on the 14th April 1917. He served a total of 5 years and 41 days.

In April 1921, John was recalled for the 90 days' Emergency Service and re-appointed to the Tyne Electrical Engineers. (Army Form B 2529 Attestation, 90 days' Emergency Service 1921) shows he was signed up on the 12th April 1921.

He was by this time residing at 4 Orchard Place, Dunston. John died in 1922, in Gateshead.

He was discharged under Kings Regulations, Para 392 (XXI).

He was awarded 3 Medals - Victory, British and 15 Star.

"The Tyne electrical engineers originated in the early 1880s as a specialist unit in Newcastle responsible for defending the port with submarine mines and searchlights. Its work and numbers grew, and it soon became a full-fledged unit of the Royal Engineers. In the Great War the unit pioneered the use of mobile searchlights, defending ports on its native Tyneside and at Gosport from air and sea attack with searchlight batteries. Units were also engaged on the western front, where, amongst other responsibilities, they supplied water for hard-pressed infantry on the Somme; helped in the tunnelling work that preceded the explosion of a score of gigantic mines at the battle of Messines Ridge".

Additional research: James Pasby

Information researched by Pamela Siegel (nee Stobbs)

Source: History of the Tyne Electrical Engineers. By Major O.M. Short, Major H. Sherlock, Captain L.E.C.M. Perowne & Lieut M.A.Fraser. ISBN: 9781845747961.

He is remembered at Jarrow on J2.03 and J2.41

Incidentally he grew three inches taller from enlisting in 1913, till his final discharge in 1921.