Photo: Pauline Priano
Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Bertram Cattell Wanless, one of 4 children, all of whom survived, was the 2nd born of 3 sons who had a younger sister.
His father William Morgan Wanless born at Pelton Fell, County Durham, had lost both his parents by the age of 17 and in 1871 aged 20-years is listed as head of the household at Swinburne Place, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, employed as an engine fitter he had managed to keep the family together. His sister Sophia (18) took care of household duties, Paulina (12), Frederick Adolphus (9) and Robert (6) were scholars. Sophia was married in 1873 at Gateshead, County Durham, to boot manufacturer, John Alsop Wilson, William Morgan in 1878 in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, to Mary Jane Cattell, who was born in circa 1854 in Somerset. In 1881 William and his brother Robert were at Front Street, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, living with their sister’s family, his wife Mary Jane, their son Frederick Adolphus, born August 30th 1880 at Gateshead and sister Paulina, with his widowed aunt, grocer, Isabella Stoves, at 136 Sodhouse Bank, Gateshead, (now known as Sheriff Hill). Frederick Adolphus had moved to Manchester, living at 159, Oldham Road, as a boarder in the home of chemist, Richard H. Williams, and was himself an apprentice chemist.
Ten years later, grocer, William and Mary Jane had a home of their own at 6 and 8, Elm Street, Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, and a second child Bertram Cattell Wanless born in 1884, William James Cattell and his twin May Ethylene Hayman Wanless were born, June 10th 1891, baptised, July 1st. Between 1891 and 1901 the Wanless family moved to Westerhope where William was a provisions dealer for his own account, Frederick Adolphus (20) a confectioner’s apprentice, Bertram (16) a commercial office clerk, William (9) remained at home with his mother, the family employed a domestic servant 45-year old Margaret Nixon, the whereabouts of May is unknown, however, she was again living at home by 1911. William was general dealer for his own account assisted by his wife Mary Jane and May (19). Frederick (30) was a pastry cook at a bakery, Bertram (26) a clerk for a confectionary manufacturer and William (19) a market gardener, Margaret Nixon was still their housekeeper.
Bertram Cattell Wanless enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, soon after the communicant of war in August 1914. All regiments raised new battalions in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms, between August 4th and the end of September 1914 half a million volunteers had come forward to form the New Armies and he was assigned as Private 31663 to the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Prior to his departure for the front he was married during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1915 to Henrietta Kennedy born January 7th 1891 at Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Private Wanless departed to France, as of January 1916, joining his regiment at the base depot where he was transferred to the 9th Battalion K.O.Y.L.I. in the field, which had been on the Western Front since September 1915, part of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division. News would have reached him whilst on active service that his father William Morgan Wanless had died March 25th 1916 aged 65 years, registered at Castle Ward, Northumberland.
The 9th Battalion saw action during the Battles of the Somme in 1916 on the opening day, July 1st at the Battle of Albert which raged until July 13th, Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, but did not take part in any other major offensive until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Battle of Morval September 25th-28th. Le Transloy October 1st-18th. Having moved to the Arras sector they were in action during the spring offensive at the Battles of Arras, April 9th-May 16th during the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe and the Battle of Arleux. By June 1917 they had moved from France to Belgium in preparation for the forthcoming 3rd Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917.
Private 31663 Bertram Cattell Wanless was reported as missing and wounded, after extensive investigations as to his whereabouts it was accepted that he was presumed to have died, killed in action, October 22nd 1917, the news was confirmed, November 14th 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 35,000 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing which forms part of the perimeter wall of Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, near Ypres in Belgium, commemorating servicemen from Britain and New Zealand who died on the Ypres salient as of August 16th 1917 to November 1918 who have no known grave. Private Wanless was 33 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 178, Monday Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. She received a 5 pound grant, December 3rd 1917 and was awarded a pension of 13 shillings 9 pence, May 14th 1918, to be received weekly as of May 20th 1918.
The marriage of Bertram and Henrietta was childless, she remarried in 1925 to Norman Patterson born February 18th 1892 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and with whom she had 2 children, Moira in 1926 and Dorothy, June 7th 1933. In 1939 they were living at 10, Woodside Avenue, Newburn, Northumberland. Thomas was employed as a fitter at the ordinance engineering works.
Henrietta Patterson-Wanless nee Kennedy died aged 63-years, at Doncaster, Yorkshire, January 21st 1952, Norman Patterson at Denton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, February 16th 1975, aged 82-years.
William Morgan’s brother Frederick Adolphus Wanless emigrated to New Zealand where he practised as a chemist. He was joined in New Zealand by William Morgan and Mary Jane’s son, pastry cook, Frederick Adolphus, in 1914, who during WW1 served with the New Zealand Forces and survived the conflict.
Frederick Adolphus Wanless (brother) died, aged 72-years, January 30th 1935 at Kawakawa, North Island, New Zealand, and buried in the Anglican section of Kawakawa Cemetery. William Morgan and Mary Jane’s son Frederick Adolphus Wanless died November 5th 1951 and buried within Maunu Cemetery, district of Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand.
Mary Jane Wanless nee Cattell died November 22nd 1955, district of Gateshead, County Durham, aged circa 98/99 years of age.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Bertram Cattell Wanless is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
