Electrical Engineers ROH Book page 63

Newcastle Daily Chronicle 28/7/1916

Medal Index Card

Northumberland & Durham Family History Society

Newcastle Journal Thursday 27th JULY 1916

In St Nicholas Churchyard there is also a family headstone which reads

In sacred memory of
Phoebe Newton beloved wife of
Major T. D. CHALLONER
And of his dear son Lieut Rex Thomas RE
who died of wounds at Boulogne Hospital
25th July 1916.

Rex Thomas Challoner was born on the 14th October 1885, at 53 Heaton Park Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne as the only son of two children to Major Thomas Davison Challoner, [born Benwell Lodge, 1856 died 29th November 1925], a Chartered Accountant, and his wife Phoebe Newton nee Bratt, [born 1859, died 18th March 1921], of 9 Oaklands, Gosforth, and 22 Dean Sreet, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They were married on the 12th November 1884, at Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire. The other child was a Marjorie Challoner, [born 7th July 1887, in 1939 was residing at 8 Dene Terrace, Gosforth, Northumberland. Private Meansand Single].

In 1861, Tomas senior [son of John Sadler Challoner born 1812 died 1890, and his wife Ann Harriet Dixon born 1823 died 1910], was residing at Benwell Lodge, By 1881, his office was at 56 Dean street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1885 and 1886, he was residing at 53 Heaton Park Road. Tomas senior now married, moved to Gosforth after 1891 to 21 Landsdowne Terrace, prior to this he was residing at Leases Terrace in Jesmond.

Rex was educated privately, and at Jesmond Durham College of Science, at Rutherford College from 1897 to 1901, where he obtained Senior Honours in Chemistry. He then spent eight months in France to study French. Thomas then became a student at Rutherford College from September 1902. In the 1902/03 sessions at Rutherford College he attended engineering lectures and worked in the laboratory under Professor R. L. Weighton. Its here where he passed his matriculation Exam in January 1903.

Rex was also a member of the Gosforth Nomads Rugby Football Club.

He then became a Pupil Apprentice with R.W. Hawthorn Leslie & Co. Ltd. in July 1903 until 1906 when he joined the Newcastle-on-Tyne Electric Supply Co. Ltd. as a Junior Assistant Engineer. Starting in 1904, Rex started to attend evening classes in engineering subjects. In 1906 Rex joined the British Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and was based in their Cardiff office. He resigned his position just after the declaration of War.

Rex had joined 'D' Company, the 21st Battalion (4th Public Schools), Royal Fusiliers Battalion at Ashtead Surrey, as an acting Sergeant. Prior to this he was in the University O.T.C. 'R' Company 3rd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as a Corporal, and in the Cyclist Company of the above Battalion. In 1908 he voluntarily resigned from the Northumberland Fusiliers, because of his job.

In 1911, Rex Thomas Challoner was boarding at 41 Moreton Avenue, Stretford in Lancashire.

Rex was examined at Cardiff University College for his Medical examination on the 8th September 1914 and was 5 feet 6 and a quarter inches tall, 8 stone 5 lbs, dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair, and was placed into the 21st [Service] Battalion Royal Fusiliers, with the rank of private and the service number 4031 from the 15th September 1914 at Cardiff. By this time he was boarding at 16 Ryde Street, Cardiff. {The 21st Battalion was disbanded in April 1916, and the men posted to other battalions and cadet schools}.

Rex was granted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant from the 4th October 1914, into the Glamorgan (Fortress) Royal Engineers (TF) who were responsible for the searchlight defences of Milford Haven. Thomas was based at Pembroke Dock South Wales into the 4th Electric Light Company. Rex was then promoted a Temporary Lieutenant on the 29th March 1915 still in the 4th Electric Light Company.

He proceeded to France on the 28th August 1915 and was attached to 1/1 Cheshire Field Company Royal Engineers (TF) at the front. This was renamed the 438th Field Company, at one time a part of the 3rd Division.

He saw a great deal of action which culminated in the award of the Military Cross, gazetted 16th May 1916 for he went out twice and made reconnaissances under heavy shell fire.

In July 1916, Rex was heavily involved in the fighting around Delville Wood where he was mortally wounded on the 23rd July. He died in the No 7 Base Hospital, Boulogne, on the 25th July 1916. Thomas was unmarried.

Research: Colin Boyd/James Pasby

Rex Thomas Challoner is remembered at Gosforth on G9.06 and G9.019

Rex Thomas Challoner is also remembered at Manchester at Alstom [formerly Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co], Westinghouse Road, Trafford Park, Trafford, Greater Manchester, M60 1AE, now located at Trafford Park Heritage Centre, St. Antony's Centre, Eleventh Street, Stretford, Manchester, M17 1JF. [Map Ref SJ 794966].

Footnote: His service papers do not show the name 'Rex' or his birth certificate. However, his family headstone records Rex and the Engineers WW1 ROH book shows Rex. Also he has been named as Thomas Rex, not Rex Thomas.

Institution of Engineering and Technology Archives
1/1 Cheshire Field Company
Trafford War Dead
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Challoner