John Thirlwell
Royal Navy Badge
Colin Boyd has submitted the following:
John was born on 18th March 1895. He was working as a miner living with his parents, John George and Lily at 2, Store Row, Cambois, Blyth when he enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry on 1st September 1914.
He transferred to the RNVR on 10th September 1914 and joined "A" Company of the Anson Battalion on 1st March 1915. John was posted as missing assumed killed in action in Gallipoli on 4th June 1915.
John George Thirlwell was born 18th March 1898* at Cambois, Northumberland. His parents were John G. Thirlwell, a hewer in the coal mines, born at Delaval, Northumberland and Lily Thirlwell (nee Simmons) who was born at Cambois.
In 1901 John George was 3 years old and his family, which included siblings Jane 10, Nellie 9, Arthur 8, Lily 6 and Joseph who was one year old lived at 16, Store Row, Cambois.
By 1911 the Thirlwell family had moved to 2, Store Row, Cambois and included additional siblings Joseph 12, Ruth 9, Thomas 8, Rob 6, Adine 3 and Edward aged 1. In total the Thirlwell family had 11 children.
Military records show that John George Thirlwell was living with his parents at 2, Store Row, Cambois when he enlisted at Blyth, initially in the Durham Light Infantry on 1st September 1914. He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 10th September 1914 where he joined “A” Company of the Anson Battalion on 1st March 1915. He was posted as missing assumed killed in action at Gallipoli on 4th June 1915.
*Note Navy records shows his date of birth as 18/3/1895. However, census and birth reports confirm the year to be 1898.
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided more information.
John George Thirlwell is remembered in Cambois on C6.02
