In Willington Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Grave of:-
446695 Sergeant
T.W. Rawlings
15th Bn Canadian Inf.
24th May 1918 Age 33
A headstone also reads:-
In Loving
Memory Of
William
The Beloved Husband Of
Emily Rawlings
Who Lost His Life At
Brancepeth Colliery
By Explosion
April 13th 1896
Aged 50 Years
Thy Will Be Done
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas William Rawlings was born at Willington, County Durham, July 26th 1886, the only son of William Rawlings of Aspatria, Cumberland born April 2nd and baptised May 15th 1846, and his third wife Emily Hickman born 1867 at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, who was the daughter of labourer Thomas Hickman and his wife Hannah. They were married in the district of Durham in 1885.
Emily was of the same age group as William’s children from his first marriage to Jane Dixon born 1846 at Maryport, Cumberland whom he had married at Crosscanonby, County Durham, May 15th 1864. Jane gave birth to 4 children, Mary Ellen born 1864, Joseph 1867, Moses April 2nd 1868 and Annie January 18th 1870 born at Harelaw, County Durham where they had moved to between 1868 and 1870.
William Rawlings was employed as a coal miner and had again moved with his family to The Boat House, Prudhoe Castle, Bywell the following year. It was here that Jane Rawlings nee Dixon died January 16th 1872, aged 26 years.
William remarried at Willington, County Durham, October 31st 1874 to Dinah Brown of Walbottle, Northumberland born 1850 and with whom he had a daughter, Jane Elizabeth born 3rd quarter 1880, who died 4th quarter 1881. This was followed by the death of his wife Dinah a year later age 32 years.
In 1891 William (43) his wife Emily (24) his sons Moses (24), Joseph (22) and their son Thomas William (5) were living at 8, Albert Street, Willington, William, a stone-man and his sons were employed at Brancepeth Colliery. He died 5 years later, April 13th 1896, aged 50 years. He was one of 20 men killed (some reports state 21) by an explosion at Brancepeth “A” Pit at about 10 a.m., caused by the ignition of coal dust during firing. He was interred at Willington Cemetery. He left all his effects to his widow Emily. William’s daughter Annie (mother Jane Dixon) died at 3, York Terrace, Willington, February 22nd 1906 aged 26 years.
Thomas William Rawlings married in the district of Durham during the 2nd quarter 1909 Hester Annie Pickles of Willington born 1890. They settled at Plantation View, Twizell Lane, West Pelton. It was here that their son was born, listed as 3 months old but as yet unnamed in the census of 1911, he was later baptised as William Rawlings. Living with them were Thomas William’s grandparents Thomas and Ann Hickman and his mother-in-law Mary Annie Pickles. He supported them all employed as a colliery blacksmith.
Thomas William Rawlings emigrated alone aboard the SS Magnetic of the White Star Line leaving the port of Liverpool bound for Quebec, Canada, arriving June 30th 1912. Upon his arrival Thomas William found work as a blacksmith and was joined by Hester Annie and their son William, July 11th 1914 when they arrived from Liverpool with the White Star Line aboard the SS Laurentic.
On the outbreak of war Thomas William sent his wife and son back to England. They returned to Willington, living at 8, Cross Street.
Thomas William left his employment to join the Canadian Army at Calgary, May 8th 1915. He was assigned with regiment number 446695 to the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, passed fit and transferred to the 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment), May 26th 1916.
He served in France and Belgium and rose through the ranks to Sergeant. Whilst on active service he received a gunshot wound to his right hand April 9th 1917 and was evacuated back through the lines for medical treatment. April 12th 1917 he was struck off and transferred to England from hospital.
Sergeant 446695 Thomas William Rawlings died May 24th 1918 in England and was interred at Willington Cemetery with military honours, grave reference 3 C R57. He was 32 years old and the recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His sacrifice is recorded by the CWGC and in the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance page 489.
His widow Hester Annie remarried in 1919 to ex-serviceman Wilkinson Smailes of Willington born 1885. He had served on the Western Front as of July 7th 1915 as Gunner 50322 Royal Garrison Artillery and was the recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Hester Annie Smailes-Rawlings nee Pickles died in 1962 aged 72 years, Wilkinson Smailes in 1964 aged 79 years, both registered in the district of County Durham.
Details as regards Thomas William and Hester Annie’s son William Rawlings are unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas William Rawlings is remembered at Oakenshaw on O20.01
In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial.
