Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Henry Thompson, eldest son of William and Isabella Thompson, was one of 4 known children all born at Fife, Scotland, James in 1892, Catherine 1893, William 1894 and Hugh 1897. After the death of her husband Isabella re-married, May 29th 1899, at the Registry Office, South Shields, County Durham, to Alexander Inglis Cowie, born April 23rd 1878 at Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Isabella gave birth to a further 7 children by 1911 of whom only 6 survived. Alexander Jnr was born at Choppington, district of Morpeth, Northumberland, in 1900 as were Agnes Inglis August 20th 1901, Isabella November 2nd 1903, Rachael August 10th 1905, Eliza 1907 who died in 1909, only 1-year old, Peter and Robert at Netherton, Northumberland 1909 and April 12th 1910 respectively. In 1911 the elder Thompson brothers and their step father were all employed at the colliery, James (19) and William (17) as putters, Alexander Cowie as a hewer, Hugh Thompson (14) is listed as leaving school, his sister Catherine remained at home with their mother as did the Cowie children. The following year, December 6th 1912, their youngest child Thomas was born at West Sleekburn, but by 1914 they had moved to 3, North View, North Walbottle, Northumberland.
When war was declared August 4th 1914, all regiments raised new battalions in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms which were joined by the enthusiastic new recruits. William Henry Thompson and his step father Alexander Inglis Cowie both joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, in November 1914, assigned to the newly formed 22nd (3rd Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, made up primarily of men of Scottish descent.
As Private 820 William Henry Thompson joined his battalion at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. After initial training near Newcastle the battalion moved to Alnwick camp within the grounds of Alnwick Castle where along with the 20th/21st and 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers it formed the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division in June 1915. Taken over by the War Office August 15th 1915 the division moved to Salisbury Plain for final training and departed to France, January 9th 1916. They concentrated at La Crosse, east of St Omer, after undergoing a period of trench familiarisation they were moved to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming offensive due to commence June 29th 1916, which because of bad weather did not take place until July 1st 1916. At 7.28 a.m. July 1st 1916 two huge mines were detonated in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines, one to the north, the other to the south of the village of La Boisselle, near Albert. The 22nd together with the 21st and 23rd Battalion was in support of the 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, July1st-13th, participating also during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, July 13th-17th 1916 but did not participate at any other major battle on the Somme. At the conclusion of the Battles of the Somme the division moved to the Arras sector.
Having risen through the ranks, Corporal 820 William Henry Thompson Northumberland Fusiliers was initially reported as missing and after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts was struck off and is considered to have been killed in action, July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 72,315 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating men of the British and South African forces killed on the Somme before March 20th 1918, who have no known grave. Corporal Thompson was 22 years of age and single.
His mother as sole beneficiary received all monies due him from the Army, also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her at 3, North View, Walbottle, Northumberland.
His step father served briefly as Private 523 with the 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers from November 20th 1914 until January 19th 1915, discharged under King’s Regulations 392(iiic), “not being likely to become an efficient soldier,” “recruit within 3 months of enlistment considered unfit for service.”
Although James and Hugh Thompson were eligible to serve during WW1 no records have been found.
Isabella Cowie-Thompson died in 1938, registered at Northumberland South, she was 63 years of age. In 1939 Alexander Inglis Cowie was living alone at Horton Cottages, Blyth, listed as an unemployed farm labourer, he died aged 62 years in 1942, Newburn, Northumberland Central.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Henry Thompson is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
