In Pont-De-Nieppe Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 40933 Private John Tobin serving with the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers who died 29/10/1918.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Tobin was the 3rd born of 4 sons and had 2 older and 6 younger sisters. His father Thomas Tobin born 1845, an Irish immigrant from Queens County, was living at Church Street, Crook, County Durham, as a lodger in 1871, working as a coal miner. He married in 1877 in the district of Lanchester to Annie Agnew native of Newcastle upon Tyne, born 1858. They settled at Crook where James Tobin was born October 26th 1878, Sarah Ann 1880, Susannah 1881, Hugh Thomas 1884 known as Thomas Jnr, John 1886, Margaret 1888, Mary 1890, Ellen 1892, Edith 1894, Edward 1896 and Winifred 1898.
Between 1898 and 1901 they had moved from Crook to 37, Office Street, Cornsay Colliery, where Thomas and his sons James (22), Thomas Jnr (17) and John (15) were all employed as coal miners. Daughter Florence was born at Cornsay in 1903 at 22, Post Office Terrace where they were still living in 1911, Edward (15) was employed underground at the pit, helping up. Thomas Tobin died, district of Lanchester, in 1912, listed in error as having been born in 1841.
When war broke out with Germany John Tobin left his employment at Hedley Hill and enlisted at Esh, County Durham. He was assigned as Private 53249 to the South Wales Borderers Training Reserve. Once mobilised he was posted to the 6th (Service) Battalion as Private 40933 which had been raised at Brecon, September 12th 1914, part of Kitchener’s Third New Army, 76th Brigade, 25th Division, in February 1915 converted to a Pioneer Battalion. The regiment had departed to France landing at Le Havre, September 25th 1915, concentrating at Nieppe.
Private Tobin did not join them until 1916, his first experience of action came at Vimy Ridge in May 1916 before the regiment moved to the battlefields of the Somme joining the fighting just after the main attack July 3rd near Thiepval. They also participated at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres and Ancre Heights. In 1917 in action at Messines they attacked between the Wulverghem-Messines and Wulverghem-Wytschaete roads, during the 3rd Battle of Ypres they saw action at the Battle of Pilkem. When the Germans attacked the Somme front in March 1918 they were dispatched to the Battle of Lys, then transferred July 2nd 1918 to the 30th Division. They were in action during the Advance in Flanders and by the Armistice had crossed the River Scheldt.
Private 40933 John Tobin South Wales Borderers either wounded or suffering from disease was evacuated back through the lines to the 8th Casualty Clearing Station where he died October 29th 1918 and buried at Pont-De-Nieppe Communal Cemetery, Nord, France, grave II. H. 18. The cemetery was used by the Field Ambulance and fighting units to bury the dead, October 1914-March 1918 and again September-November 1918.
His mother Annie received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His eldest brother James also served and survived the conflict, Hugh Thomas Tobin also served but died at Lanchester in 1918, no details have been found as regards the war service of Edward Tobin.
Annie Tobin nee Agnew died in 1941 aged 83 years registered Durham North Western.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Tobin is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 and at Satley on S116.01
