Photo: Jack Turton
In Holy Trinity Churchyard Cornforth is a family headstone for Crosby which reads:
In loving memory
of
Edward
beloved husband of
Eliza Crosby
of Cornforth Lane
who died 19th January 1921
aged 70 years
Also of the above
Eliza E. Crosby
who died 14th August 1935
aged 79 years
Also Thomas their son
who fell in action in France
7th July 1916 aged 21 years.
Also of Frederick their son
who died 4th Dec. 1922
aged 35 years
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Thomas was born on November 22nd 1889 at Cornforth, Durham then later baptised at on December 15th 1889. He was the son of Edward and Eliza Ellen (nee Harrod) who went on to have 10 children although sadly 3 died.
In 1891 father, Edward was working as a coal miner. His children included George, Selina, John, Frederick and Thomas who were al at school at this time.
1901 census notes father still working as a coal miner hewer. His oldest son, George is also working at the pit as a putter as was brother, John whilst Fred (aged 13) was a driver.
The family had grown in size since the last census as new additions, Hannah and Hilda had arrived.
1911 records family still and working at the same address at Cornforth Lane.
Thomas enlisted at Deaf Hill Colliery, Durham September 8th 1914 and joined the Durham Light Infantry.
Although his service documents are available there is very little information shown on them.
His battalion landed in France September 12th 1915. He appears to have been killed in action at the Somme on July 17th 1916 as his death was officially accepted from this date. He had previously been reported missing.
Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Thomas Henry Crosby is remembered at Cornforth on C115.01 and C115.02, at Coxhoe on C103.01 and at Tursdale on T62.02 as Crossby, and at Durham in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 185.
