Newcastle Daily Chronicle 10/07/1916
Soldiers Died in the Great War gives his middle name as "Gilson".
Angela Conroy has supplied this report from the Whitley Seaside Chronicle & Visitors' Gazette 15/7/1916:
'MAJOR T.G. NOBLE, OF MONKSEATON KILLED
Major T.G. Noble, Northumberland Fusiliers, is reported killed in action on the 3rd of July. Major Noble was a well known commercial traveller in Newcastle and district and was an old volunteer. He was amongst the first to respond to Kitchener's call for men. Major Noble was married, and resided at 6 Kenilworth Road, Monkseaton.
In a letter from the front, a Whitley soldier speaks of his great regret at the death of Major Noble, who was killed, he says, at about 7.15 a.m. on Sunday July 2nd. "I have spoken," says the writer, "with three or four of the men he led in their attack on the German line. They all agree that he was one of the first out of our trenches, and that he quickly fell wounded in the leg by a bullet. Scrambling to his feet he called out in the North-country dialect, 'Ho'way Lads! Follow me! I'll lead you at 'em!'. He was hit a second time before falling before the fire of a German machine gun. As far as I can gather his body was recovered and buried last night (Monday 3rd July.) His men say that, though very strict, he was a most popular officer. "
Very much sympathy is felt on the seaside district for his young widow.'
The Daily Mirror - 16/07/1916:
MAJOR KILLED : Major T. G. Noble (20th Northumberland Fusiliers) who has been killed in action. He did good work in the formation of his battalion.
Newcastle Journal 10/07/1916:
NOBLE Killed in action, on July 3rd, Major T G Noble, Northumberland Fusiliers, loving husband of Mary Noble, 6 Kenilworth Road, Monkseaton.
Newcastle Journal 15/07/1916:
Local Officers Killed and Wounded - NOBLE Major T.G Northumberland Fusiliers.
Thomas Gibson Noble is remembered at Barnard Castle School on B135.04 and B135.20 at Whitley Bay on W84.01, W84.30 which gives 1st July 1916, and W84.31
The CWGC entry gives his date of death as 1st July. This was queried and their reply is:
"We have looked into the claim made by the newspaper, but we have failed to find any corroborating evidence. According to the 20th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers war diary, the battalion only attacked on the 1st July. On the 2nd July it was being pulled out of the line as a result of massive losses it had sustained on the 1st July. However, should you find any further evidence to substantiate this claim, we would be pleased to receive it."
