Durham Light Infantry
Carole Fife has provided the following:
Henry, younger brother of Christopher was born in Bedlington in 1889, the fifth child of John and Barbara Jefferson. For many years the family lived in Telephone Row, Bedlington, but 1911 they were living at 48, North Terrace, Bedlington, and John and his sons all worked in the pit.
In 1912 Henry married Elizabeth Pattison and went to live at 23˝ Victoria Terrace, Bedlington. They had three children, Barbara, Joseph and John.
He enlisted in January 1916, but was placed in the Army Reserve . He was not called up until June 1918, when he was sent to join the Durham Light Infantry. He arrived in France on 18th October, 1918, and arrived at the front on 27th. He was killed 4 days later and is buried at Vichte Military Cemetery.
Derek Johnstone adds more to the story:
Henry Jefferson was born in Bedlington Northumberland in 1889 to parents John and Barbara Jefferson. In 1891, when Henry was one year old his family lived at Telephone Row, Bedlington which was a colliery row adjacent to Bedlington Doctor Pit. By 1901 the family which included nine children was still living at Telephone Row. In 1911, Henry was living at 48, North Row, Bedlington and was employed as a miner.
Henry, a Methodist, married Elizabeth Patterson in 1912 and they had three children Barbara, Joseph and John.
At the time of enlistment Henry was living at Vulcan Place Bedlington.
His military records are available and show he had light brown hair and blue eyes. His height is shown as being 5’ and 3/4“ tall, the reason why he was in the 19th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry which was originally the Durham Bantams. Henry disembarked in France on 18th October 1918 and was killed about 13 days later; the war ended 11 days after his death.
In his will his wife was living at Dowson Buildings, West End Bedlington. Sadly his brothers William and Christopher were also killed in action. In 1921, his widow who was living at Colville’s Yard, Vulcan Place, Bedlington was informed her husband’s remains were to be reburied at Vichte Military Cemetery.
He is remembered in Bedlington Station on B163.04 and in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.11 and B15.20, in Durham on D.L.I. 19th Regiment Roll of Honour page 10 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 301
