In Sunderland (Southwick) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
L/7455 Gunner
T. Berry
Royal Field Artillery
28th September 1915
Thomas was the fourth son of James Donkin Berry, of Sunderland, who was a Plater’s Helper. His wife was Mary, daughter of John Pratt of Portsmouth.
Thomas was born on the 1st January 1892, in Southwick on Wear, and was educated at Southwick Board School. Co Durham.
He enlisted on the 8th March 1915 and died on active service, from wounds sustained, at Tedworth Hospital 28th September 1915 from Septic Peritonitis.
Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Derek Haynes has provided the following:
The birth of Thomas was registered in the March 1892 in Sunderland. He was the youngest child of James Duncan and Mary Elizabeth Berry (nee Pratt) who were married March 1876 Sunderland.
Records show that there were 8 children from the marriage:
John was born circa 1873 approximately three years before James and Mary married, possibly the illegitimate child of Mary then took the name Berry when his mother married;
Emma Jane – June 1876;
Clara Lizzie March 1878;
Frederick James June 1883;
William Spence December 1880;
Florence March 1886;
Ruth Elizabeth December 1889.
Tragedy was to strike the family when on the 11th November 1884 at the family home of 17 James Armitage Street, Southwick, William, aged only four years died. He was laid to rest in Southwick Cemetery two days later.
In 1891, just prior to the birth of Thomas, the family was still residing at 17 James Armitage Street. Overcrowding would have been a problem for them as by this time there were eight in the family living in two rooms. James was employed as a shipyard labourer.
Aged 9 years by the time of the 1901 census Thomas was residing with his parents and sisters Emma (26 years), Florence (14 years) and Ruth Elizabeth (11 years). They were now living in 4 rooms at 25 Barnett’s Buildings, Southwick.
On the 13th April 1909 Thomas’s father aged 53 years died and was laid to rest on 18th April 1909 in Section JJ Grave no. 2880 of Southwick Cemetery. Burial records give his age as 55 years.
By 1911, still at 25 Barnett’s Buildings, was Thomas, now aged 19 years and employed as a shipyard labourer; his widowed mother Mary and his two elder sisters Florence and Ruth Elizabeth.
As no records survive we do not know when Thomas enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery. He was given the service number L/7455.
We do know that Thomas was badly wounded as he spent some time in Tidworth Military Hospital situated at Salisbury Plain, South East Wiltshire. It was here that he died on the 28th September 1915, aged just 23 years. His body was brought home to Southwick where he was laid to rest on the 3rd October 1915 in Section JJ Grave No 2282 of Southwick Cemetery.
His mother Mary Elizabeth, aged 69 years, died 8th February 1922 at the family home 25 Barnett’s Buildings, and was laid to rest on the 11th February 1922 in the same plot as Thomas.
Thomas Berry is remembered at Southwick on S130.22, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 12 page 110 and in Peter Gibson’s book.
