Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

James Teasdale, one of 4 known children, was the youngest of 2 brothers, he had 1 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Robert Teasdale was born at Coxlodge, Gosforth, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in 1848 and in April 1871, at the age of 20, employed as a blacksmith, he was living as one of 3 lodgers in the home of widow Isabella Margaret Marshall, at 1, Backfield, Gateshead, County Durham. Later that month he was married at Gateshead to Jane Potts born 1849, originally from Port Carlisle, a fishing village in Allendale, Cumberland, who was employed in the home of Isabella J. Cargey, at Elswick Row, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, as a servant. Their son Thomas was born at Gateshead in 1873, as were Mary Ann, April 27th 1874 and James 1878, Lily Eveline was born at Benton Row, Long Benton, Northumberland in 1880. Robert, listed erroneously in the 1881 census as Albert, still supported his family employed as a blacksmith, however, by 1891, having moved to Walker Gate, he was now helped by Thomas, an apprentice riveter, James attended school, Lily remained with her mother, Mary Ann had left the family home.

During the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1901 James was married in the district of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, to Isabella Lilly Muers born at Gateshead, County Durham, December 18th 1880 and with whom by 1911 he had 5 children. Isabella Muers Teasdale was born February 5th 1902 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Robert, October 10th 1903, Jane Potts, March 6th 1906, John Gilbert Muers, July 3rd 1908, at Newburn and Norah, November 1st 1910 at Walbottle, where they occupied 2 rooms at 44, Old Row, North Walbottle, Northumberland, James worked as a hewer at the colliery.

War with Germany was declared August 4th 1914, their youngest child James Jnr was born 12 days later, August 16th 1914.

All regiments were ordered to raise new battalions as part of Kitchener’s New Armies. In answer to the call James was one of the first to enlist at Newburn, October 14th 1914, assigned as Private 78 to the 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, joining his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A further 3 battalions were raised and 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 where the 20th/21st/22nd and 23rd Battalions formed the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, and transferred to Salisbury Plain for final training in late August 1915.

Private Teasdale departed with his regiment January 9th 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 78 James Teasdale Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action, July 1st 1916, and temporarily buried on the battlefield by his comrades at map reference 57d.X.14, with a further 9 servicemen, their graves marked with a cross. His widow was informed of his death, July 25th 1916. The body of Private Teasdale was later exhumed, taken to Ovillers and interred within Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme, France, positioned behind the dressing station. He was 38 years of age and is at rest grave XV. D. 2.

His widow of 17, Old Row, North Walbottle, received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, also a pension of 29 shillings, awarded January 26th 1917 to be paid weekly as of January 29th for herself and their 6 children, received until each child in turn reached the age of 16-years.

In 1923 she re-married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland to ex-serviceman Private 26890 Gladstone Beaconsfield Wood, Border Regiment, born at Dearham, Cumberland, March 26th 1888. Isabella Lily Wood-Teasdale nee Muers died aged 48 years in 1929, registered at Castle Ward. In 1939 Gladstone, employed as a colliery labourer below ground, was living at Perseverance Terrace, district of Cockermouth, Cumberland, where he died in the district of Whitehaven in 1944 aged 56 years.

Details as regards James and Isabella’s children;

Isabella Muers Teasdale married at Castle Ward in 1921 to George Hodgson, born November 22nd 1900, also of Long Benton. In 1939 they were living at Milton Street, Ryton, County Durham, with two teenagers, Lillie born June 15th 1923 and George James T. Hodgson, July 4th 1926, George was employed as a colliery stoneman. Isabella Muers Hodgson nee Teasdale died in 1986, her death was preceded by that of her husband who died in 1960.

Robert Teasdale was married in 1926 in the district of Castle Ward to Mary E Newton, born 1904. In 1939 he was employed as a coal miner/hewer, they were living at 24, Alston Gardens, Newburn where Mary died later that year, Robert in 1989.

Jane Potts Teasdale in 1939 was living at 14, Brampton Gardens, Newburn, with her husband Cecil Douglass, born April 5th 1900, at Dunston, Gateshead, County Durham, whom she had married in 1923 in the district of Castle Ward and son John R. Douglass, birth February 3rd 1924. John was their eldest child, Jane also gave birth to, Thomas 1926, Irene, 1928, Cecil Jnr 1930, June 1933 and James Teasdale Douglass 1937, all in the district of Castle Ward. Cecil Douglass died in 1985, Jane Potts Douglass nee Teasdale in 1986, Northumberland.

John Gilbert Muers Teasdale, in 1927, was employed as a locomotive fitter for W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Ltd., Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living with his mother and step father at 12, Waverley Crescent, Leamington, Northumberland. He joined the Royal Air Force, at the age of 19, September 14th 1927, described as 5 feet 61/2 inches tall, brown hair, grey eyes and fresh complexion. He served as Aircraftman 507074, posted, January 4th 1928 to 17 (F) Squadron which had reformed in 1924, stationed at RAF Hawkings, just north of Folkestone in Kent, moving to RAF Upavon, Pewsey, Wiltshire, in October 1926. John was married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1930 to local girl Margaret Brooks born July 4th 1908, who had two children of her own John A. T. Brooks born September 30th 1927 and James N Brooks, September 18th 1929. In 1939 Margaret was living with her children, now listed under the surname Teasdale, at 14, Stone Street, Newburn, Northumberland, both boys were scholars. She and James appear to have had 3 children of their own, Robert G Teasdale in 1932, Donald 1934 and Colin 1937, at Castle Ward and Northumberland South, including Newburn and Westerhope. John Gilbert Meurs Teasdale died in 1959 in the district of Cambridge, interred at Saffron Walden, district of Uttlesford, Essex. Margaret re-married in the district of Saffron Walden in 1962 to Victor C. Long. Having returned to the north east Margaret Long-Teasdale nee Brooks died in 1990 registered at Northumberland West.

Norah Teasdale was first married in 1931 in the district of Castle Ward to Joseph William Coulson born 1907 who died June 7th 1935, only 28 years of age, in a mining accident at Montagu Colliery, Scotswood, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Employed as a coal cutter his was killed by a fall of stone, leaving Nora with the responsibility of an infant daughter Norma born in 1932. Norah re-married during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1937 to John Fowler, born May 29th 1917, tragically within a few months her daughter Norma Teasdale died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1937, 4 years of age. Norah gave birth to their only son John Fowler Jnr during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1937. In 1939 the Fowler family were living at 20, Ouston Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, John Fowler was a house and shipyard joiner. Norah Fowler-Coulson nee Teasdale died in 1952, John Fowler in 1959, both registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

James Teasdale is remembered at Whorlton on W53.0 as Teasedale