Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Wilfred was the youngest of 7 known children, 6 sons and a daughter, offspring of Thomas Driver born circa 1846 at Bramhope and Margaret (Meggie) Graham native of Darlington, also in County Durham, born 1853. The couple were married May 7th 1871 at Drewsbury, West Riding, Yorkshire. Son William Walker and daughter Mary Elizabeth were born at Morley, Yorkshire in 1871 and 1873 respectively before they transferred to Darlington, County Durham, birthplace of Richard in 1875. Five years later they were living at Drewsbury, the birthlace of Walter in 1880, however the following year Thomas Driver was employed as a quarry man at Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham, whilst the family were living at Split Crow Lane. They remained at Felling for the next 11 years where their family grew, but, unfortunately Walter died there in 1883 aged 3 years. Son Joseph was born in 1884, Robert 1887 and Arthur in 1890, just after the death of his brother Richard in 1889 aged 13 years. In 1891 they were living at 13, Charlton Row, Felling, Thomas was still a quarryman, with the help of William (20) employed as a quayside labourer, he supported his ever-growing family. Thomas Wilfred was born in 1893 and was not yet 10 years old when his father died in the district of Gateshead, County Durham in 1902. Margaret, listed as Meggie Driver, remarried in 1903 at Gateshead to widower Thomas Freeman the elder brother of her son-in-law, Richard Henry Freeman who had married her daughter Mary Elizabeth in 1897. They and her 3 youngest sons moved in with Mary Elizabeth and her family, living with her husband and 2 children in 3 rooms at 15, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, Northumberland. Richard Henry Freeman was deputy overman below ground at the colliery, his brother Thomas (65) a shift worker, Robert and Arthur Driver aged 23 and 22 years of age were hewers and putters, Thomas Wilfred (17) a rope lad, Margaret assisted her daughter in the home and with the care of her grandchildren, Thomas Richard (9) and Lily (11).
When war was declared in August 1914, several of the Driver brothers would have been eligible for service but only the record of Thomas Wilfred has survived.
Regiments were ordered to raise new battalions and to this effect he enlisted in the newly formed 20th Battalion (1st Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, as Private 751. The recruits trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915, then on to Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915 as part of the 34th Division and finally arriving at Salisbury Plain for final training in late August 1915. Private Driver departed with his regiment as of January 1916 attached to the 34th Division which congregated at La Crosse, east of St Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they made their way to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming battles. The opening battle of the Somme due to commence June 29th 1916 was delayed until July 1st by bad weather. The 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were in action on the first day during the Battle of Albert. At 7.28am two huge mines were detonated under the German lines, one to the south and one to the north of the village of La Boisselle which signalled the beginning of the attack. The 20th Battalion had 500 yards to cover under heavy machine gun fire, nevertheless, capturing Scots and Sausage Redoubts. The battalion lost 26 officers and 564 men.
Private 751 Thomas Wilfred Driver Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names of British and South African forces inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating those who died on the Somme before March 1918 and who have no known grave. Private Driver was 23 years of age and single.
His mother Margaret Freeman received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at Bingfield House, Westerhope, Northumberland.
Margaret Freeman-Driver nee Graham died at Gateshead, County Durham, in 1919 aged 67 years her death recorded as Margaret Driver.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Wilfred Driver is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
