Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Mason was the only son of house painter John Mason and Martha Hoy of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, born 1864 and 1868 respectively. His father was living as a boarder in 1891 in the home of John and Emma Gray at 40 Seaham Street, Westgate, Newcastle. How he met Martha Hoy is unknown but their son Thomas was born in 1896, however, John and Martha never married although she was known as Mrs Mason. Martha, listed as Mason and Thomas (4) were living at College Yard in 1901. In the census of 1911 they are living in one room at 42, Side, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a steep and narrow street, which flanks Newcastle Castle boundary and leads toward the River Tyne, also in the household is John Mason (47) still employed as a house painter, Thomas (14) is listed as an apprentice plumber.
When war was declared with Germany Thomas was almost 18 years of age, old enough to enlist but too young to serve overseas. He enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, assigned as Private 24258 to the Northumberland Fusiliers and presumably in error, as he had no past experience, to the 1st battalion of the Regular Army before posting to the 1/5th Battalion. The 1/5th was part of the Tyne Defences after the outbreak of war but also trained men for the draft. He was later posted to the 1/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in the same capacity before being mobilised and sent to France in 1916 joining his regiment at the base depot. Private Mason was posted to the 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers with a new service number 34724, joining his battalion in the field.
The 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers had been relieved in January from the front line spending time at rest near Bruay until returning to the front line, March 3rd, taking over the area around Boyau de L’Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, and subjected to heavy shelling. Some of the men with mining experience during March 1916 were transferred to the newly formed Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers. The main body of the regiment returned in April to Bruay area for a second period of rest before returning to the Souchez sector as the Germans attached at Vimy Ridge, May 16th 1916, where they remained until their withdrawal during June 1916 to Bomy to undertake extensive training in preparation for the forthcoming offensive on the Somme.
The opening battle on the Somme was expected to take place June 29th, however, due to bad weather it was postponed until July 1st 1916. The 10th Battalion as part of the 23rd Division participated during the opening battle at Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, where it captured Contalmaison, saw action at Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 23rd-September 3rd, Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th, Le Transloy October 1st-18th including the capture of Le Sars.
In 1917 the 23rd Division returned to Belgium where they fought at the Battle of Messines, June 7th-14th, Menin Road September 20th-26th, Polygon Wood September 26th-28th and the 1st and 2nd Battles of Passchendaele.
Private Mason was reported as missing and after investigations as to his whereabouts, struck off, presumed to have been killed in action, October 13th 1917. Some of the money owed to the deceased family by the Army was allocated to his mother, listed as Miss Martha Hoy, the remainder to his uncle, Thomas Hoy. His awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to the address of 4, Mark Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
After the conclusion of WW1 at the request of the French and Belgians the clearing of the battlefields began and isolated bodies and small concentrations were brought into lager cemeteries for re-burial. Remains were found in 1920 at map reference 28 NE J. 11d. 20. 50, the original cross marking the grave was missing. The body was identifiable by means of a pay book as that of Private Mason, who was brought in for re-burial, January 24th 1920, along with others found strewn across the adjoining area, 8 unknown British Soldiers only identifiable as such by the remains of their clothing and a Private B. Dixon of the Durham Light Infantry, numerals Durham and a disc.
Private 34724 Thomas Mason Northumberland Fusiliers was interred with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain at “The Buttes’ Polygon Wood Cemetery, West Vlaandaren, near Ypres, Belgium, and is at rest grave XVI. A. 3. At the time of his demise in 1917 he was 21 years of age and single.
Martha Hoy never knew her son had been found as she died at Newcastle-upon-Tyne during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1919, aged 51 years. Her brother Thomas Hoy commissioned an additional inscription to be added to his nephew’s military headstone at a cost of 3 shillings 2 pence, it reads, “Rest In Peace.”
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Mason cannot easily be identified on a Newcastle-upon-Tyne War Memorial. There is a T. Mason Northumberland Fusiliers on NUT126 Is this Thomas?
