In Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 19952 Private Anthony Thompson serving with the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 02/10/1917.
The husband of E. Hedley (formerly Thompson), of Mill Cottages, Front Street, East End, Bedlington, Northumberland.
Eoin Gallacher has submitted the following:-
Anthony Thompson was born in 1878, at Bedlington, Northumberland, son of Ann Thompson. On the 1881 census, Anthony was living at Front Street, Bedlington, with his widowed mother aged 40, brothers John aged 18 and George aged 10. By 1891, Anthony was now a Scholar, aged 13, his mother strangely recorded as “single”, his brother George, is working down the pit.
Anthony married Ellen Welsh in 1905, they went on to have John born 15th June 1906 and Stephen born 1st August 1909. In 1911, Anthony was now working as a coal miner aged 33, at the Oliver Buildings, Glebe Row, Bedlington, with his wife and children. On the 4th November 1911, their son Joseph was born.
Anthony enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers, at Bedlington, assigned to the 11th Battalion, and allotted the service number 19952. George, his elder brother, served in the Remounts, Army Service Corps. On the 25th August 1915, Anthony arrived in France, his fourth child, Margaret was born on the 20th May 1916.
Unfortunately, Private Thompson was wounded on the 20th September 1917, he later died of those wounds on the 2nd October 1917, in France. Before enlistment, Anthony was employed at Barrington Henry Pit.
The Morpeth Herald 19/10/1917 reports:-
THOMPSON. — Wounded on the 20th September, and died on the 2nd October, 1917. Private Anthony Thompson, dearly beloved husband of Ellen Thompson, of Bedlington. —
Deeply mourned by his sorrowing wife and four children.
The Morpeth Herald 09/11/1917 reports:-
In loving memory of our dear brother, Anthony Thompson, Bedlington, who died of wounds, October 2nd last. — Ever remembered by his two brothers, John and George (in France), his sisters-in-law, Annie and Isabella, also his nephews and nieces.
His son Stephen Welsh Thompson was killed in WW2. and his brother in law Stephen Welsh was killed in 1917.
Anthony Thompson is remembered at Bedlington B15.02, B15.03 and B15.26 (though it says he returned).
