Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Tweddell was the only son of Thomas Tweddell and Elizabeth Carron, he had 2 elder sisters. His father Thomas was born at Newburn, Northumberland in 1866 and married Elizabeth, who was born March 25th 1869 at South Moor, Holmside, County Durham, in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1891. They settled at Newburn, birthplace of Martha in 1892, Elizabeth Ann 1893 and George William 1896. Sadly, his wife Elizabeth Ann died in 1898 only 29 years of age. Widower Thomas in 1901 was living at 5, Second Row West, in the village of Walbottle, where he was employed as a coal miner/hewer and with the help of Mary Ann Carron (22), his wife’s youngest sister, although listed as a servant, he was raising his children, 9, 6 and 5, until he remarried during the 1st quarter 1911 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, to Sarah Laybourne. Sarah was born February 22nd 1886 in the parish of Lumley, County Durham and brought to live at Walbottle by her family as a young child, she was 19 years younger than Thomas and only 7 years older than his eldest daughter Martha. In 1911, Thomas, Sarah, Elizabeth Ann (17) and George William (15) were living at 15, Middle Old Row, North Walbottle, George William had joined his father at the colliery working below ground as a pony driver.
Upon the declaration of war he enlisted at Newburn where he was assigned as Private 2508 to one of the newly formed battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers. In the absence of a war record it is impossible to know his exact movements. He was possibly transferred as of October 1915 to the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) which consisted not only of Infantry but also Cavalry and Motor branches, expanded in 1916 with the addition of the Heavy Branch.
At the time of his demise he was serving as Acting Corporal 42454 with the 33rd Battalion Machine Gun Corps, formed, February 19th 1918 from the Machine Gun Companies of the 33rd Division which fought during the Battle of Lys, April 9th-29th, also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, part of the German spring offensive in Belgium, the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance to Victory.
Acting Corporal 42454 George William Tweddell was killed in action, November 5th 1918 only 6 days prior to the 33rd Battalion’s withdrawn to the Sambre valley for a period of rest and where they received news that hostilities were to cease at 11o’clock, November 11th 1918.
Acting Corporal Tweddell was buried by his comrades on the battlefield, his grave marked by a cross bearing his name and military details. After the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, which officially brought WW1 to a close, at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing of the battlefields began, isolated graves and small concentrations were removed and brought into larger cemeteries. March 3rd 1920 at map reference 57a. C. 2. c. 7. 10, between Escaut and the Sambre, was found the grave of A.Cpl. Tweddell, identity confirmed by the cross which still marked his grave. His family were informed of the necessity to exhume his remains and confirmation that he was to be re-interred within Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-Au-Bois, Nord, France, with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain. He is at rest grave III. C. 19, A. Cpl. 42454 George William Tweddell M.G.C. was 22 years old and single at the time of his demise in 1918.
His father received all monies due to his son from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 15, Middle Old Row, North Walbottle, Northumberland.
It should be noted the CWGC entry lists G. W. Tweddell with the rank of Corporal.
By 1939 Thomas Tweddell, now in his early 70’s, was incapacitated, a patient at the Public Assistance Hospital, 20, Preston Road, Tynemouth, Northumberland, his wife Sarah was living with her 2 brothers, colliery workers, Edward and Ranson Leybourne at 42, Windsor Crescent, Newburn, Northumberland as their housekeeper.
Thomas Tweddell died in 1955 aged 88 years, district of Northumberland West, his wife Sarah Tweddell nee Leybourne aged 82 years in 1969, district of Northumberland South, both are registered as Tweddle.
With the death of Thomas Tweddell this branch of the family ceased to exist as he and Sarah do not appear to have had any children.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George William Tweddell is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
