In Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 97949 Sapper Thomas White Young, serving with the 225th Field Company Royal Engineers who died 11/01/1918.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas White Young Jnr was one of 3 children and the only son of Thomas White Young Snr born 1837 at Newcastle upon Tyne and dressmaker Anna Isabella Milburn a native of Gateshead, historically in County Durham, born 1846.
Thomas and Anna Isabella were living at 50, Railway Street, Elswick, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1871 as man and wife, however, their marriage may not have taken place until 1874, just prior to the birth of their daughter Margaret Ann Milburn White Young. Their family was complete with the birth of Thomas White Jnr, baptised at St Andrew, October 17th 1878 and Anna Isabella 1880. Thomas Snr was employed as a cabinet maker and in 1881, they had left Elswick and were living at 37, Bryson Terrace, Byker, Newcastle.
Thomas White Young Snr died in 1890 aged 53 years. His widow remarried in 1891 to signal fitter and widower Matthew Davison, born 1836 at Gateshead, who had three married daughters of his own, Maggie, Sarah and Lizzie. They settled at 72/73, Herbert Street.
Thomas White Young Jnr enlisted in the Army in 1898, assigned to the 3rd Battalion Volunteers Northumberland Fusiliers but in 1901, at the age of 22, he was employed as a joiner and signal fitter for the North East Railway. His sister Anna Isabella (21), listed in error as Hannah, assisted her mother with the household chores. Their older sister Margaret had left the family home.
Thomas White Young Jnr married at the church of St. Bede, Gateshead, June 24th 1902 Margaret Halliday Hatley Scott, originally from Northumberland where she was born, October 12th 1880. Their daughter Anna Isabella was born January 10th 1904 and son Thomas White Young, June 13th 1908.
In 1911 they were living at 54, Herbert Street, Gateshead. Thomas was still employed by the North East Railway as a joiner and signal fitter.
After the outbreak of war Thomas received a notice and enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne on May 11th 1915. Given his joinery skills he was assigned to the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, reporting to the Depot at Chatham, May 19th. He was transferred twice finally joining the 155th Field Corps, 16th (Irish) Division. Having been given notice at the beginning of December 1915 of his unit’s imminent departure for the front he was absent without leave December 3rd-8th 1915, his punishment was the forfeiture of 6 days pay.
Sapper 97949 Young departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force, December 18th 1915 bound for France and also served in Belgium. He was admitted to hospital whilst on active service in 1916 and 1917 for a brief period, cause unspecified. Having been given leave to England, July 7th-17th 1917 was again absent without leave until the 19th and placed on open arrest. He returned to the front and at the time of his demise Sapper 97949 Thomas White Young, Royal Engineers, was with the 225th Field Company, 39th Division in Belgium. He was killed in action, January 11th 1918 on the Ypres salient and interred at Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, grave III. F. 2. He was 39 years of age.
His widow Margaret received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children as of July 29th 1918 in the sum of 25 shillings 5 pence a week, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and personal items consisting of a religious book, notebook, pouch, badge, 2 razors in case and match box case, sent to her at 54, Herbert Street, Gateshead, She commissioned at a cost of 15 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, Ever Remembered By His Loving Wife And Children Thomas And Annie.
Their son Thomas White Young died May 11th 1970 aged 61 years at Merton, Greater London.
Anna Isabella married fitter and turner, Henry E. Riseborough in 1934, they were living at 2, Cotterdale Avenue, Gateshead in 1939 with their son Ernest, born January 26th 1935 and her widowed mother Margaret. Widow Margaret Halliday Hadley Young nee Scott never remarried, she died at Gateshead in 1949 aged 70 years, Ann Isabella Riseborough nee Young died aged 81 years at Gateshead in 1985.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas White Young is remembered at Gateshead on G39.025
