Menin Gate
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
In 1901 William Thomas Glass was the oldest child of Ashington-born Thomas Glass who was a 32 year old grocer’s assistant married to William’s mother, 29 year old Mary Ellen Glass who was born in Hartburn. William himself, who was 7, was born in Morpeth, as was his 5 year old sister Evelin. The family lived in Bowsers Court, Morpeth.
By 1911 many changes had taken place. Thomas Glass was then working as a coalminer (shifter) and William, now 17, was working as a market gardener. Three more children had been born to the family. Edna Glass was 9, Leonard Aitcheson Glass was 3 and Elsie Glass was 1, all born in Morpeth. The family were living at 2 Dacre Court, Morpeth.
William’s marriage to Ella Nora Glass (nee Curry) was registered in the Apr-May-Jun quarter of 1915. She was born in 1898 so would have been only about 17 years old at the time.
William served with the 1st/7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and very shortly after his marriage he was killed in action on 24th May 1915. Strangely the CWGC name his mother Polly Glass. His widow was living in Kilburn, London when the CWGC were putting their records together.
Morpeth Herald 11/06/1915 carries a brief obituary:
Pte. W.T. Glass, 7th N.F., Morpeth, was killed in action on 24th May in one of the engagements round Ypres.
Morpeth Herald 11/06/1915 carries the following:
ROLL OF HONOUR
GLASS- Killed in action, May 24th, in his 22nd year, William Thomas Glass, eldest and dearly-beloved son of Thomas and Mary Ellen Glass, 2 Dacre Court, Morpeth. Much respected and deeply lamented by all who knew him.
GLASS- Killed in action in his 22nd year, on the 24th May, Pte. W.T. Glass, 2383, 7th N.F., the dearly-beloved husband of Ella Glass (nee Curry), of Pegswood.
He marched away so bravely,
His young head proudly held,
His footsteps never faltered,
His courage never failed;,
Then on the fiield of battle,
He calmly took his place,
He fought and died for Britain,
And the honour of his race.
Sleep on, dear husband, in a far-off grave,
A grave I will never see;
But as long as life and memory lasts,
I will remember thee.
Ever remembered by his loving wife.
William Thomas Glass is remembered in Morpeth on M17.01, M17.02 , M17.09 and M17.29 and in the Battalion History
