Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Cuthbert Catterson was the youngest of 8 children, all of whom survived, 2 sons and 6 daughters, father William Catterson born March 14th 1856 at West Hartlepool, County Durham, where he was married in 1877 to Rose Hannah Fraser native of Walker, Northumberland, born 1855. All their children were born at West Hartlepool, Elizabeth Lily in 1878, Rose Hannah 1880, Alice 1882, Harriet Humble, July 12th 1885, John William 1888, Eliza 1890, Jessie 1894 and Cuthbert 1896. Rose Hannah Catterson nee Fraser died in 1898 aged 43 years, in 1901, William supported his family, with the exception of Elizabeth Lily who had left home, employed as a painter/labourer for the North East Railway, helped by daughter Rose Hannah (21) who worked as a barmaid. The remainder of his daughter, except Jessie who looked after the home, were married by 1911. William maintained his employment for the railway, John (23) was a labourer/joiner at the shipyards, Cuthbert (14) a scholar, he had taken in, “boarders,” his daughter Alice and husband, coachman/domestic Frederick Hodgson (28). Son John William died in 1913, only 25 years of age.
In 1914 when war was declared Cuthbert was not yet 18 years old, once he became eligible for service he enlisted at West Hartlepool, assigned as Private 2035 Durham Light Infantry and posted to the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry of the Territorial Force. The Territorials were split into 2 lines the 1st for service overseas, usually at their own request, the 2nd for home service. Having trained at Bolden Colliery and Ravensworth Park the first draft of men departed from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, railway station, April 17th 1915, bound for France, landing at Boulogne, they were hurriedly sent into the trenches of the Ypres salient in Belgium where they were subjected to German attacks using poisoned gas for the first time. With a change of service number as Private 202588, Cuthbert as part of a draft of reinforcements joined his regiment in the field, July 10th 1916, which had been sent to the Lines of Communication, reduced to cadre strength as the amalgamated 6th/8th Battalion. At full strength by August 1916 the two battalions regained their original identity and the 1st/6th joined the 117th Brigade, 39th Division on the battlefields of the Somme fighting on the Ancre and participated during the Battle of Thiepval September 26th-28th, the Battle of Ancre Heights October 1st-18th including the capture of Schwaben and Stuff Redoubts and the Battle of Ancre November 13th-16th 1916. During 1917 they returned to Belgium and saw action at the Battle of Pilkim Ridge July 31st-August 2nd, Langemark August 16th-18th, Menin Road September 20th-26th, Polygon Wood September 26th-28th all phases of the Battle of Passchendaele, July 31st-November 10th 1917. The regiment spent another winter in the trenches before returning to France when the Germans attached again on that front, March 28th 1918.
Private 202588 Cuthbert Catterson died December 21st 1917 and was interred at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, grave IX. B. 13. He was 21 years of age and single.
His father William received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William Catterson died aged 64 years in 1920 registered in the district of Hartlepool, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Cuthbert Catterson is remembered at Hartlepool in H111.30 and at West Hartlepool on W111.54 and W111.86
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 336
