In Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-d’Armentieres, Nord, France, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 21032 Private Thomas Guy, serving with the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 13/11/1915.
He was the son of Thomas Guy, of Felling, Gateshead and the husband of Selina Guy, of 35, Ridley Terrace, Heworth, Gateshead.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Guy Jnr. was born at Felling, Gateshead, historically in County Durham in 1882, the youngest son and one of 9 known children 3 sons and 6 daughters born to Thomas Guy Snr native of Painshaw, born 1851 and his wife Mary Jane Oliver born 1851 at Seaham Harbour, County Durham. His parents married at Houghton le Spring in 1870 and settled at Berwick Row, Painshaw where his father worked as a coal miner. Having moved to Coldwell Bank, Heworth by 1881, moving later to 29, Coldwell Street, Thomas Snr now worked below ground as a hewer. Thomas Jnr joined him at the colliery and his sister Kate aged only 13 was employed as an assistant at the paint works.
Thomas Guy Jnr. married, aged 28 years, in the district of Gateshead in 1910 Selina Addison born February 4th 1888 at Felling settling at 7, Parkinson Street, Felling. Selina gave birth to a son William in 1910 and a daughter Annie in 1914.
On the outbreak of war Thomas Harrison enlisted at Felling, assigned as Private 21032 Durham Light Infantry, attached to the 13th Battalion. The battalion was formed at Newcastle upon Tyne in September 1914 and joined the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division when it moved to Aldershot, Hampshire in November, then Willesborough, Kent by February 1915 and went to Bramshot in May 1915. As part of the British Expeditionary Force the Division landed at Boulogne, August 26th 1915 concentrating near Tilques. September 5th, they were attached to the III Corp and moved to Merris-Vieux for trench familiarisation from the 20th and 27th Division, taking over the front-line sector between Ferme Grande Flamergrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road in their own right by the 14th and where they stayed in the Armentieres and Souchez sector in and out of the trenches for the rest of 1915 until spring 1916.
Private 21032 Thomas Guy Durham Light Infantry died November 13th 1915, in the field, not due to any enemy action but was accidentally killed. No documentation exists in order to know the exact details. He was interred at Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-d’Armentieres, Nord, France, grave 1. F. 8. aged 31 years. At the time of his demise the family also suffered the loss of Thomas Guy Snr who died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1915 either just prior or just after his son, aged 64 years.
Thomas Jnr’s widow Selina received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 35, Ridley Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. Selina remarried in 1919 Joseph Henry Birkett born 1891 at Gateshead and gave birth to a daughter Edna in 1920.
Joseph Birkett died at Gateshead in 1947, Selina in 1960 aged 72 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop’s Local Advertiser 17/12/1915:
Private Thomas Guy, 13th D.L.I., accidentally killed in France on Nov. 13th, aged 31 years. Husband of Selina and youngest son of Thomas and the late Mary Guy of Felling.”
Thomas Guy is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 H92.04 and H92.07
