Alnwick Gazette Almanack 1918
Illustrated Chronicle
Medal Card for D.C.M.
DCM Citation
Thomas Egdell was born, the 2nd eldest son of 12 children, on the 25th November 1877 the son of Robert and Thomasina Jane (nee Blythe), and was baptised on the 17th December 1877 in Alnwick. Two of his siblings died.
Thomas Edgell was awarded the D.C.M. for action under heavy fire at Grancourt between the 3rd and 5th February 1917.
London Gazette 26/03/1917: "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He got his machine guns into action under heavy fire & greatly assisted in repelling a strong enemy counter-attack. He set a fine example of courage & initiative.”
"22/09/17"; Awarded DCM DO/14 7/3/17 (in action at Grandcourt 3-5/2/17) London Gazette 26/3/17 p.2987: "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He got his machine guns into action under heavy fire & greatly assisted in repelling a strong enemy counter-attack. He set a fine example of courage & initiative."
Thomas had been promoted to Petty Officer on the 29th March 1917. The DCM was presented to Thomas on the 27th May 1917. He was given leave to the UK from the 13th to the 23rd June 1917. On the 8th September 1917 he is awarded 1st Good Conduct Badge. Thomas went missing on the 22nd September 1917 and was originally reported killed in action while out on patrol. His body was not recovered and it was later reported that he died of wounds as a prisoner of war on the 24th September 1917. Thomas was killed by a sniper on the 22nd September 1917.
Morpeth Herald 26/10/1917 carries a brief obituary:
Petty Officer Thomas Egdell, D.C.M., second son of the late Mr John Egdell, New Row, Alnwick, has been killed by a sniper in France.
The newspaper incorrectly stated that he was the son of John Egdell, Robert Egdell was his father.
When notified of Tommy’s death, Alice was residing at 277, Maple Street, Ashington, she was awarded a pension of 21 shillings and 3 pence weekly from the 28th March 1918. She also received a D.C.M. gratuity of £20 4s 8d. She and her son then resided at 246 ½, Milburn Road, Ashington, Northumberland.
Thomas was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal after the war. Thomas had four other brothers in the war, three of whom died and one was wounded.
After the war, Thomas’ wife, Alice, went to visit her married sister, Isabella Lupton, residing at 196, New Aberdeen, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She took her son, Edward, aged 18, with her and they travelled on the Empress of Britain, ship number 120940, leaving Liverpool on the 5th July 1922 and arriving in Quebec, Canada on the 11th July 1922. Their surname was incorrectly listed as Edgell. Alice returned to the United Kingdom with her future daughter-in-law, Mary Magdalene Culson, travelling on the Letitia, ship number 148847, and leaving St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, arriving in Glasgow, Scotland on the 11th February 1933. Edward was not with them, he arrived back in the UK 3rd Class at Liverpool from Halifax Canada, on the Montclare on the 8th January 1933.
Edward married Mary Magdalen Colson on the 31st July 1933 in North Seaton, Northumberland. His mother, Alice, died towards the end of 1937. Edward and his wife, Mary, left for Canada. They travelled on the Montrose, ship number 145919, leaving on the 1st April 1938 from Liverpool, and bound for Halifax, Canada They were listed as being a farmer and his wife, residing at 66, Cavendish Road, Edmonton, Canada. Edward and Mary later had a son, Thomas (Tommy) Michael Edward Egdell born in 1941 at Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Edward died on the 29th November 1959 in New Waterford and his wife, Mary died in 1998, being buried on 30th April 1998 in New Waterford, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Acknowledgements: Margaret Allison, Colin Boyd, Jennifer Stephenson. David Thompson.
Thomas Egdell is remembered in Ashington on A17.01, (A17.27), A17.22 and A17.43 and at Alnwick on A11.01 A11.03, in A11.09, page 9 A11.21 and in A11.56 page 29.
