Thomas Usher, one of 8 siblings was the 3rd born of 5 sons and had 3 sisters. His father Joseph Thomas Usher was born at Scilly Banks, in 1848, his mother Susannah Cain in 1850, both in the district of Whitehaven, Cumberland. They were married in 1868 and settled at 5, Front Row, New Houses, Whitehaven, where Joseph Thomas was employed as a coal miner and daughter Sarah was born in 1870. 1872 was a year of both joy and sadness as their first son Francis was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/ Feb/Mar) but Sarah died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec), only 2 years old. Susannah gave birth to a further 2 children William, born August 26th 1873 and Thomas, 1876 before they left Cumberland and migrated to the north east. In 1881 they were living at Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in a property situated between the Bay Horse and Royal Oak Inns, birthplace of Elizabeth Jane, January 13th 1881. Joseph Thomas had found employment there and in search of work moved his family several times over the next 10 years. Daughter Susannah was born at Little Burn, County Durham, in 1888, Joseph Jnr at Wylam, Northumberland in 1889, before they settled at Walbottle, where he and his son Francis (15) had found work at Blucher Pit as a coal hewer and putter. Charles Edward was born at Walbottle in 1891, however the family had returned to County Durham by 1901 where they occupied a property at Belt’s Square, Blaydon Burn. His elder sons had left home, he supported his wife, daughters Elizabeth (20), Susannah (12), Joseph (11) and Charles Edward (10) and to increment the family income had taken in boarders, blacksmith, George Porter, his wife Agnes and 16-year old son Peter a mason’s labourer.

Thomas was married in 1895, district of Castle Ward, Northumberland to Sarah Jane Keating born at Ashington, Northumberland in 1873, with whom he had 3 children, Charles, born at Lemington, circa 1895, Frances May, 1903 and Thomas Jnr, February 1st 1905, at Radcliffe, Northumberland. In 1911 they were living in 4 rooms at 9, Third Street, Netherton Colliery, near Bedlington, coal miner/hewer Thomas supported his family with the help of Charles (16) employed as a pony driver below ground, to increment the family income they had taken in a boarder, married shifter, Edward Cowans.

1914 not only culminated with the declaration of war with Germany but began with the death of Sarah Jane Usher nee Keating during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar), in the district of Morpeth, Northumberland. At the time Thomas and family were living at 1, Corn Buildings, Choppington, where he was employed as a miner. He enlisted at Bedlington, December 20th 1914, giving the name of his sister Susannah Aitken of Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, as his next of kin and was assigned as Private 851 Northumberland Fusiliers, joining his regiment at Gosforth on the outskirts of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Posted to the 23rd (4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalion he trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915. An application was made May 10th 1915, for his discharge under King’s Regulations 392(iii), “unlikely to become an efficient soldier," Private 851 Thomas Usher Northumberland Fusiliers was discharged at Alnwick, May 12th 1915.

His nephew Joseph Usher also enlisted during WW1 as did his brother who whilst serving as Private 12962 Charles Edward Usher Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in Belgium in 1915. Both his sisters were bereaved during 1917, his brother in law Lance Sergeant John Maughan Northumberland Fusiliers died, April 28th 1917, John Aitken during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1917, not war related.

Thomas Usher died aged 62 years in 1939, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.