Medal Index Card
A member of the family has submitted the following:
Thomas James was my wife's uncle; her sister and one brother are still alive and we believe are the nearest surviving relatives. Their father was Thomas's youngest sibling some 13 years younger.
Thomas James TAILFORD was born in Gateshead during the 1st quarter ie; January, February or March 1892. He was the 2nd of 7 children of Thomas and Elizabeth Ann Tailford who, I believe, lived in the Lanchester area. The family moved to South Shields about 1905 and lived at 21 Derby Street and then in 1911 they are shown to be at 47 Somerset Street.
Thomas James married Emma Waugh on 20th April 1916 and had a son (Thomas B.) born later that year. He worked at St Hilda's Colliery as a labourer above ground.
With the outbreak of war he joined The Durham Light Infantry service number 4333. Later he was to transfer to 19th Battalion 'The Lancashire Fusiliers' and was given the service number 36472.
On 24th February 1917 whilst in action he received mortal injuries and was admitted to field hospital and sadly died the following day. He was buried in a battlefield grave and later when 'The British Commonwealth War Graves Commission' was established he was laid to rest in Warlincourt Haulte Cemetery, Saulty, France in grave number V.B.7.
While in hospital he was able to send a postcard home to say he had been injured and would be writing again soon. He never sent any other communication after that and the family still has that postcard. We also have a picture of his battlefield grave (a simple wooden cross). We also have a photo of his war grave in Saulty and a copy of his death certificate. The last 3 items we will treasure, but out of respect will not allow them to be published.
Thomas James Tailford is remembered in South Shields on S86.003, S86.027, S86.073, S86.086 and S86.133
His initials on S86.003 are incorrectly shown as T.T. Tailford.
