Photo: Brian Chandler
T.N. Shell
Northumberland Fusiliers
1st November 1918.
William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Thomas Nesbit was born at Ancroft in Northumberland in 1895. His parents married in 1888 but appear to have produced only 2 living children - Thomas and his older brother, Andrew.
The 1901 census records the family as living in Goswick, Northumberland. His father, Thomas, was a shepherd living with Jane (nee Nesbit) and his brother Andrew. There was also a servant/assistant shepherd with them whose name was Robert Easton.
By 1911 Thomas had left the family home and gone to live and work with his uncle Andrew. Both men were shepherds at the farm at Beanley. His brother, Andrew was still living with his parents.
According to the Berwick Advertiser 02/07/1915 Thomas Nesbit Shell is named amongst those who enlisted that day at Wooler Recruiting Office He was posted to the Northumberland Fusiliers and served in several battalions including 27th/ 24th 27th/ and the 19th although he was serving with 4th battalion when he died.
He embarked for France on September 2nd 1915. His service records are missing but it is known that he was wounded on October 6th 1916. There are no details of the injury but he was allowed to wear a wound stripe.
He was wounded again on May 25th 1918 with was reported on the War Office Daily List no. i5575.
Thomas died of pneumonia on November 1st 1918 at Skirlaugh Military Hospital, East Riding of Yorkshire. This hospital had previously been used as the Union Workhouse until it was taken over by the military.
He was awarded the 1915 Star the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his war services.
Thomas Nesbit Shell is remembered at Milfield on M9.03 and at Kirknewton on K15.01, K15.07 and K15.08