Smith Dock October 1922 In house Magazine
Medal Index Card
Photo : NEWMP
Thomas Thompson Burdon was born at 173 Mile End road, on the 22nd August, 1887, and baptised on 11th September, 1887 at St Stephen’s Church, in South Shields. His parents, John Evans Burdon and Margaret Thompson were married on the 5th February, 1881 at St Stephen's Church in South Shields.
His maternal grandparents were Thomas Thompson (born 1812, died 1890) and Elizabeth nee Stephenson (born 1817, died 1889); and his maternal aunts were Elizabeth Jane Thompson (born 1842, died 1915); Catherine Thompson (born 1845); and Isabella Thompson (born 1848, died 1896).
Thomas was educated at St Stephen's Junior Boys National School from 1891. In 1881, his parents were living with his mother’s parents, Thomas Thompson and his wife Elizabeth, in Mile End Road, South Shields.
His father was a boilermaker by trade and his grandfather was a Mariner. His parents, John Evans Burdon and Margaret were still residing at 173 Mile End Road in 1891, but now had three children: Thomas Thompson and brothers, Matthew (born 1884, died 1944), and John Evans (born 1889, died 1918). Later that year, on 4th August, there was an addition to the family of a daughter and sister, she was named Margaret Thompson Burdon.
Thomas Thompson’s paternal grandparents were Matthew Burdon (born 1831, died 1894); and Elizabeth Hayton Evans (born 1832, died 1910). His aunts and uncles were Anne Maria Burdon (born 1852, died 1905); Robert Hayton Burdon (born 1854, died 1905); Mathew Burdon (born 1856, died1925); Charlotte Dobson Burdon (born 1859, died 1872); Anthony Dobson Burdon (born 1861, died 1893); Daniel Thompson Osborne Burdon (born 1863, died 1906); Ada Burdon (born 1864); Mary Jane Burdon (born 1867, died 1927); Thomas Burdon (born 1868, died 1873); Ralph John Reed Burdon (born 1873, died 1952); William Harris Burdon (born 1874, died 1958).
The family were living at 20 Robertson Street, South Shields, in 1901, the father John Evans (now 42 years-old), was still working as a boilermaker and his eldest son, Matthew (age 17), was also working in the same trade for Smith Docks. The other two sons Thomas Thompson (age 13), John Evans (age 11) and their sister Margaret Thompson (age 9) were still at school. Their mother, Margaret (age 42) is not in paid work, but is a full time housewife looking after her family.
In 1911 the family are still in residence at 20 Robertson Street, but only two of the sons and their daughter are living at home; their father John Evans is a Boilermaker at Smiths Dock, his youngest son John Evans is an apprentice boilermaker at the same company, {John Evans Burdon died of pneumonia on the 18th November 1918, aged 29, at Armstrong College, Newcastle Upon Tyne}, and Thomas Thompson is also working as a joiner/painter at Smiths Dock in the Pontoons Department. The mother and her daughter are down as having ‘no occupation’. Their eldest son, Matthew Burdon married in 1905, and was living with his wife and three children at 29 Fort Street, South Shields.
Later in 1911, Thomas Thompson married Jennie Overton on the 12th November 1911 at St Stephen’s Church in South Shields. During their marriage, they had three children, Linda P (born 1912, died 1912), Thomas Thompson (born 1913, died 2002) and Elizabeth Sarah O. (born 1915, died 1916). Sadly, their two daughters died early in their lives, and only the son survived. Thomas and his wife and son had been living at 50 Thames Street, South Shields after their marriage.
After the outbreak of WW1, Thomas Thompson Burdon enlisted on the 16th November 1914, at South Shields. He was serving in 'D' Company, with the 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish), Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, when he was killed on the 1st July 1916 in Flanders, at the age of 28. His wife was informed of his death.
St George's Gazette: page 206, 31/10/1916 Thomas Burdon missing.
Initially his body was unidentified along with three other Tyneside Scottish soldiers. It was identified by his uniform boots and equipment, and by a piece of his waterproof cape when the bodies were re-interned at Serre Road Cemetery no 2, then located at Beaumont Hamel.
His wife Jennie remarried John Joseph Gilmartin, [born 1886], on the 3rd May 1921 at Bradford. They resided in the 1920 and 1930's at 159 Kensington Street.
Research : Cynthia Kent/James Pasby
Thomas Thompson Burdon is remembered at South Shields in S86.004 page 5 and 15, S86.007 S86.129, Harton on H104.01, North Shields on N34.04 in N34.30 and in N34.61
