In Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 4075 Private Walter Tom Thackwray serving with the 1st/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 03/04/1916.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Walter Tom Thackeray was born in 1886 at Kirkby Malzeard near Ripon in Yorkshire. He was one of 12 children of whom only 6 survived. He was the second born of 3 sons and had 3 younger sisters. His father, James Thackeray of Rainton, married Mary Ann Coupland of Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire, at Ripon in 1884.  Both were born in 1865.

As well as Wilfred, of their surviving children Thomas (1886), Laura (1890) and Lillian (1896) were born at Kirkby Malzeard where, in 1891, they and their mother were living with her widowed father, garden labourer William Coupland, before they moved to the north east to join James and where Elizabeth was born in 1896 and William 1898.

James supported his family in 1901 employed as a blacksmith whilst they were living at Red Houses, Lanchester, Thomas, the eldest at 15, worked as a carter on a farm.

By 1911 they were living at Midge Hole, Woodlands, Tom was an agricultural labourer, his father still a blacksmith, Laura (21) and Lillian (20) remained at home, William (13) and Robert (10) were scholars.

Lillian was now a mother, having given birth to Joseph Henry, April 7th 1909. His father was Charles Hill also living at Woodlands. He and Lillian never married, she made a claim against him after his enlistment in 1914 and was granted a stoppage Charles Hill was killed in action June 14th 1916, in Belgium.

Walter Tom Thackeray enlisted in 1914 assigned as Private 4075 Durham Light Infantry and posted to the Army Reserve until 1916 when he transferred to the 1/8th Battalion and departed to France. The main body of the battalion had departed to France in April 1915 and was fighting on the Ypres salient in Belgium.

After heavy losses in May 1915 the 1/8th merged with the 1/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry until new recruits arrived in August 1915. Private Thackeray departed to the Western Front as of January 1916, joining his regiment in the field in Belgium attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division in the trenches around Armentieres and Kemmel.

Wounded in the line of duty he was evacuated back through the lines to Lijssenthoek which, during WW1, was the location for a number of casualty clearing stations. Private 4075 Wilfred Tom Thackeray, Durham Light Infantry, is listed as deceased, died of wounds, April 3rd 1916 and interred at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres in Belgium, grave V. C. 34A. He was 30 years of age and single.

His father received all monies owed to him by the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at his home address of 3, South View, Templetown, Consett, County Durham. He commissioned at a cost of 10 shillings 6 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Until The Day Breaks And The Shadows Flee Away”.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

A remembrance notice was included in Blaydon Courier 03/04/1920, a second on 02/04/1921 and another on 07/04/1923.

The Consett Guardian 21/04/1916 reads:-
Although not actually killed at once Private Walter Tom Thackeray of Templetown, Consett was mortally wounded in action “somewhere in France” and he died without regaining consciousness after being taken to hospital. The first intimation of the sad news was received from the Nurse in Charge who wrote to the fallen soldier’s father and mother, Mr and Mrs James Thackeray 3 South View Templetown who afterwards received a letter from the chaplain, conveying to them his keenest sympathy. On the 13th April the bereaved parents were notified to the same effect from the Territorial Force Record Office York stating that Pte. W.T. Thackeray died of wounds on the 3rd April.

The deceased who was 30 years of age was a single man living at home before he joined the colours seven months ago and working at the Otto Coke Ovens. He last left home a month before his death, being accompanied by his younger brother Pte. J.W. Thackeray of the same regiment. Up to about four years ago the late Pte. W.T. Thackeray had been employed by Mr Van Haansbergen at the Woodlands. He was a canny young fellow and his loss will be much regretted by his companions. His parents have been the recipients of many expressions of sympathy.

An Appreciation
It is with profound regret that we record the death (caused by wounds, received in action) of Mr Thos. Thackeray, eldest son of Mr and Mrs James Thackeray of South View Templetown late of Woodlands.

Thomas Thackeray was beloved by all who had the joy of knowing him-so quiet and unpretentious, ever real and true. His was a life that was valuable in its sweetness, like so many who have also laid down their lives for the country so dear to every true British subject. For 14 years he acted as horseman on the Woodlands Estate and there he won the esteem of his superiors and comrades. A few years ago he came with his father to Templetown and took up duties under Mr Middleton at the Otto Ovens Consett and while being there only a short period, previous to joining the colours with the noble “Durhams” he had gained a place in the hearts of his workmates.

It seems but as yesterday that Tom with his younger brother of 18 years offered themselves for the Army and six weeks later they left for the seat of war. Willie, the younger owing to his age had to remain (much against his will) at the base while Tom with his company went forth to fight and sacrifice. And alas! Early in April he received such wounds, while in the firing line, that proved fatal; he quietly passed away on April 3rd. We realised the tragedy of the war as the message came notifying the death of one whom we all hold so dear. The sad news passed from house to house in the district like a thunderbolt, that Tom had been killed, for it was in that familiar way that we spoke of him. Tom was a household word in the Knitsley district. He was a son, who brought honour to his parents; they were proud of him as well they might be and in this great calamity of their lives our deepest sympathy goes out towards them. It was a great consolation to read the various messages of sympathy sent home from the chaplains and nurses who attended to Tom’s spiritual and bodily needs. A message from the King also testified of his sympathy and appreciation of such a noble young man. “For those to whom the call shall come;
We pray Thy tender welcome home;
The toil, the bitterness all past;
We trust them to Thy love at last;
O! hear a people’s prayers for all
Who nobly striving, nobly fall”
W. Haughan

Walter Tom Thackwray is remembered at Knitsley on K31.01 at Consett on C101.01 and at Lanchester on L62.01, also at Durham  as W.T. Thackray in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 71 and as Walter Tom Thackwray in the Battalion History.