Langley Park All Saints
In All Saints Churchyard, Langley Park, is a family headstone which reads:-
Sacred
to the memory of
Walter
the beloved husband of
Margaret A. Smurthwaite
of Langley Park
who died Aug. 26th 1906
aged 45 years
Also of
Margaret Ann
dearly beloved wife of the above
who died Feb. 6th 1914
aged 45 years
Sons of the above
Pte. William Smurthwaite killed 1st July 1916
aged 22 years
Also Pte. Tom Smurthwaite
killed Aug 24th 1917
aged 20 years
Buried in France
His end was peace
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Tom Smurthwaite was the youngest of 2 brothers, had a younger sister and 3 half-sisters, from his father Walter’s first marriage.
Born at Newbottle, County Durham, in 1860, his father, Walter Smurthwaite, after his widowed mother Mary’s marriage to Thomas Wilkinson, lived with his stepfamily at 9, Allan Square, Tanfield Lea, County Durham, employed as a coal miner. It was here that he met his future wife, local girl, Ann Lightle/Lightel, whom he married, district of Lanchester, in 1881. They had 3 daughters, Barbara 1885, Lily 1887 and Margaret 1888, but tragically Ann died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1890, only 25 years of age.
Walter re-married the following year to Margaret Ann Witty, born at Westoe, South Shields in 1868. Margaret Ann had been living with her brothers Robert and William at 6, Towneley Street, parish of Tanfield, she and Walter were married at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, December 2nd 1891, settling at West Stanley, birthplace of sons William and Tom in 1894 and 1895, daughter Mary was born at Oxhill in 1899. Ten years later Walter was the innkeeper at Langley Park Hotel which was also the family home. After his death, August 26th 1906, aged 45-years, his widow and children remained at the hotel and in 1909 Margaret Ann was married at Gateshead, County Durham, to John Brannan, of Crook, born May 6th 1862. In the census of 1911 Margaret Ann is listed as head of the household and innkeeper of The Langley Park Hotel, John also assisted with the help of 2 servants, Ethel Moreland and Ethel Gilford, William Smurthwaite (16) worked at Bearpark Colliery as an apprentice engineman, Tom (15) was a student chemist at what is described as a higher grade school, Mary (12) a scholar.
Margaret Ann Brannan-Smurthwaite nee Witty died February 6th 1914, in the district of Lanchester, County Durham. As the management of the hotel would have passed either to their stepfather or others, William and Tom moved out, left County Durham and lived together at Prospect Place, Westerhope, Northumberland. When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, both Smurthwaite brothers enlisted, Tom at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, assigned as Private 3532 Northumberland Fusiliers, his brother chose to follow his roots joining the Durham Light Infantry, serving as Private 594 William Smurthwaite.
Private Tom Smurthwaite was posted to the 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Territorial Force, part of the Tyne Defences, which with the creation of a second line in December 1914 became the 1st/6th Battalion, formed of men willing to serve overseas, the 2nd Line of men unwilling or unable to serve overseas. Fully trained Private Smurthwaite departed with his regiment, attached to the 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, October 2nd 1915. The first wave of men had departed to France in April, he joined them in the field on the Ypres salient in Belgium during the closing phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (July 31st-November 10th 1915). December 1915 the 50th Division received orders to relieve the 9th (Scottish) Division between Menin Road and Hill 60 where they sustained heavy attacks from German artillery. In January the 149th Brigade went into reserve and came back into action aiding attacks by other divisions. Between late March and April 1916 they were relieved by the Canadian Division, returning in May 1916 and transferred to Montigny-en-Gohelle area for training and arrived on the Somme in August 1916.
Spring 1916 preparations were underway for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme, which, due to commence June 29th was postponed until July 1st 1916 due to the inclement weather, the 149th Brigade took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, followed by Morval September 25th-28th and Le Transloy, October 1st-18th, remaining on the Somme until the British offensive began on the Western Front where they participated during the Battles of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917, having arrived in the Avesnes sector, April 8th 1917. At the conclusion, with the exception of 4 days when the 149th Brigade relieved the 33rd Division near Saint-Léger, the 50th Division was at rest and in training until June 1917 when they returned to the south east Arras front and relieved the 18th (Eastern) Division near Chérisy.
Having been renumbered in late 1916 or early 1917 the now Private 265715 Tom Smurthwaite was killed in action, August 24th 1917 and interred at Heninel Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France, grave A 16. The cemetery, on the road from Heninel to Chérisy, was begun by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division Burial Officer in April 1917 and used until November 1918 by the fighting units in the sector. Private Smurthwaite was 22 years of age and single.
As both parents were deceased and his only brother Private William Smurthwaite had been killed on the Somme in 1916, all monies owed to him from the Army were sent to his sister Mary Smurthwaite of Edenhurst, Twizel Lane, Beamish, County Durham, as administrator, also his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
At the time of his demise Mary was living in the home of her half sister Lily, who had married in 1910 to Robert Whitling. Lily Whitling nee Smurthwaite died in 1933, further details as regards Mary Smurthwaite, as yet unknown.
It should be noted the Register of Soldiers Effects lists Tom under surname Smurthwaik.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Smurthwaite is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
