Headstone Springfield Illinois

HMSH Asturias

SS Canada

SS. Mauretania

Thomas Brownless was born June 25th 1882, the son of William Turner Brownless, born at West Hartlepool, County Durham in 1850 and Margaret Jane Fell born 1851 at North Shields, Northumberland. Married, December 26th 1903 in the district of Hetton-le-Hole, historically in County Durham, to Lily Heslop, daughter of mason and building contractor Robert Hind Heslop and Diana Reynolds, he and his wife settled at Thornley. By 1911 they had 2 children, Robert Hind Brownless born December 22nd 1904, Dora, September 26th 1908, and were living in 2 rooms at Station Square. Thornley, also in the household were Lily’s 2 brothers, Robert and John George Heslop, who along with her husband, were employed as coal miners.

Upon the declaration of war Thomas Brownless of 1, Galt Street, Thornley, enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 7th 1914 and was assigned as Private 311, to the 21st (2nd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, one of the many new battalions raised by all regiments in answer to the call to arms. The new recruits trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915. The regiment departed for Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915, joining the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, August 15th 1915 and made its way to Salisbury Plain for final training crossing to France January 9th 1916 where the division concentrated near St. Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they made their way to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming battles.

Thomas had left his wife heavily pregnant with their third child, a daughter, whom she named Hannah Newton Brownless, also known as Anna, was born March 28th 1916, at Wingate, County Durham.

The opening battle of the Somme due to commence June 29th 1916 was delayed until July 1st by bad weather. The 21th 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.

During the onslaught Private Brownless was wounded, July 2nd, a gunshot wound to the face and also suffering from shell shock he was evacuated back through the lines to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen, A.F.B. 103 (Active Service Casualty Sheet) states he was sent back to England, July 3rd 1916, aboard Hospital Ship “Asturias,” and admitted to one of the eight V.A.D. Hospitals in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, July 5th.

It was not until eight weeks later he was considered to be fit enough to return to his regiment, in September 1916 he was posted to the 84th Training Reserve Northumberland Fusiliers, however, within a fortnight was transferred to Class W Army Reserve. Class W was, “for all soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment,” these men were allowed to return to their employment but were liable to be recalled to the Colours. July 4th 1917 this was deemed to have been an error as Private Brownless, having been examined by the medical board, August 16th 1917 was diagnosed as suffering from neurasthenia, mechanical weakness of the nerves (face), complained of being nervous and apprehensive of his condition, was suffering from dyspeptic symptoms, slight depression and there was a slight irregularity of his heart action, in conclusion he was considered to be medical grade Ciii and transferred to Class P. His service was deemed to be, “temporarily of more value in civilian life rather than in the Army and would, if discharged, be eligible for a pension on the grounds of disability or length of service.”

Private Thomas Brownless was discharged from the Army, Silver Badge No. 284878, April 16th 1918 under Kings Regulations 392(iii), “no longer physically fit for war service,” and returned to his employment at Thornley Colliery. His disability was considered to be 25%, he received an Army pension for himself, wife and children. Awards British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Two of his brothers in law perished during WW1. Private Henry Heslop serving with the West Yorkshire regiment died July 2nd 1916 and Private Henry Heslop Northumberland Fusiliers died in 1918 whilst a prisoner of war in Germany.

His wounds, both physical and mental endured long after the war ended. He was examined at Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the medical board, January 5th 1922, who noted that he had developed a fear of the dark, he sometimes worried unduly resulting in him being a little depressed and was still suffering from tachycardia. It was deemed, since he and his family had decided to emigrate, that his Army pension should continue as long as he resided in Canada or the U.S.A.

Thomas had already visited Canada prior to WW1, departing alone from the port of Liverpool aboard the Mauretania, arriving at Ellis Island, New York, September 8th 1911, final destination, Salzburg, Pennsylvania, a town based on the construction of salt wells, an ideal occupation for an experienced miner.

Thomas, Lily and their 2 daughters arrived in New York from Southampton, aboard the Mauretania, November 3rd 1922, their son Robert Hind Heslop Brownless (18) departed from Liverpool, August 12th 1922 aboard the S.S. Canada of the White Star Line, bound for Quebec then crossed into America, August 20th 1922, joining his family at 1611 East Moffitt Avenue, Springfield Illinois, daughter Diana Brownless was born, September 8th 1925.

Thomas found employment as a coal miner, and signed a declaration of intent, December 18th 1925 to apply for American citizenship and at the age of 59 was still working as a coal miner, employed by the Panther Creek Coal Company, Springfield, where he now resided with his wife at 1009 E. Reservoir.

Lily Brownless nee Heslop died aged 75 years in 1957, Thomas Brownless in 1961, interred at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois,

Robert Hind Heslop Brownless married in 1926 to Josephine E. Refine, born 1904 of West Idaho, with whom he had 2 sons by 1930, Glenn Robert Brownless born March 10th 1927 and Richard born 1930 at 1517, Moffitt Avenue, Springfield. Robert Hind Heslop Brownless died June 16th 1959 at Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.A.

Dora Brownless married Joseph Kroeschner and was living in 1932 at 1106 N 13th, Springfield, Illinois. She died in 1994.

Hannah Newton Brownless never married, she died December 17th 1938, buried December 19th, Springfield, Illinois, U.S.A.

Diana Brownless married Louis O. Gibbs, he died in 1974, Diana in 1993 at Springfield, Illinois, U.S.A.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.